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[00:00:05] Ju, welcome to the show, man. [00:00:07] >> Thanks for having me. So, so blessed to [00:00:10] be here. [00:00:11] >> Yeah. So, yeah, we met at uh Rob Luna's [00:00:14] event. What about I guess that was about [00:00:16] a month or two ago at um we were doing [00:00:19] some a speaking event there and he's [00:00:21] been telling me, Rob's a good friend of [00:00:23] mine. He's been telling me about you for [00:00:24] a long time cuz I've been interviewing a [00:00:26] lot of nuclear guys. He's like, "You [00:00:28] have to check this dude out." And um and [00:00:32] uh so here you are. And uh I'm pump I'm [00:00:35] pumped, man, to interview you. So [00:00:37] >> very very happy um to be here. And I [00:00:39] think my story will be different than [00:00:43] many of your other guys. Um not military [00:00:46] background, but I would say a different [00:00:48] background, but still being savvy and [00:00:50] from the streets, I would say, is a key [00:00:53] to kind of unlocking this different path [00:00:56] I took. I would say. [00:00:57] >> Yeah. I I love stories like this. People [00:01:00] that came from, you know, basically [00:01:02] nothing or at least close to nothing and [00:01:05] uh you know, really made something for [00:01:07] themselves. You whether that's, you [00:01:08] know, financially or or through business [00:01:11] or military career or whatever. It's [00:01:13] just a there's so many people out there [00:01:16] victimizing themselves today that I, you [00:01:18] know, it's it's important to me to show [00:01:20] people that like, hey, you don't you [00:01:23] don't have to come from money to make [00:01:24] money. You don't have to be a superstar [00:01:26] athlete to be a badass. You like you can [00:01:29] make [ __ ] happen. [00:01:30] >> No, I I that's that was kind of my [00:01:33] thesis like growing up too. You know, I [00:01:36] was never I would say sad for myself. [00:01:39] Like I would see some of my friends who [00:01:42] lived in really nice neighborhoods and I [00:01:45] would go to public school with them and [00:01:47] and I'll literally be jealous and I'll [00:01:50] see everything. But I was never sad like [00:01:52] I lived in a fourstory um walk up on the [00:01:56] last floor floor and you know in a [00:01:59] tenement building in New York like you [00:02:01] know when you see Westside Story the [00:02:02] fire escapes and stuff like that's [00:02:04] that's what I grew up in. Um and you [00:02:07] know it was a a small three-bedroom [00:02:09] apartment with with um you know four [00:02:11] kids there and and my parents my mom was [00:02:14] a seamstress. Uh my dad was a carpenter. [00:02:17] Um, he actually made French doors, which [00:02:19] was pretty cool, I I thought. [00:02:21] >> Uh, but he would get up, I remember, at [00:02:23] 6:00 a.m. in the morning, [00:02:25] >> take the train, um, uh, up to the Bronx, [00:02:28] and then he'll make these French [00:02:31] beautiful French doors. Um, and then my [00:02:33] mom would go to the sweat shop [00:02:35] essentially. So, you know, I'm I am a [00:02:38] sweat shop baby. Um, and what that means [00:02:40] is [00:02:41] >> she would literally bring me with her [00:02:43] because we couldn't afford daycare. And [00:02:46] basically she would throw me in this [00:02:49] cardboard box with and this is not a [00:02:51] typical cardboard box. It's like a [00:02:53] massive cardboard box that's probably [00:02:55] been transported from China and they [00:02:58] throw all these kits in there like a [00:02:59] play pen. So literally we will be thrown [00:03:02] in there and we're all like hanging out [00:03:05] and and and you know some of these kids [00:03:07] don't even speak English probably. So I [00:03:08] don't even remember. I just remember [00:03:10] being thrown in there and like I'm [00:03:11] playing with some random kids. Uh but I [00:03:14] think what it built in me was I [00:03:17] recognized [00:03:18] I would say business too. Um so my mom [00:03:21] would make five cents a zipper uh you [00:03:23] know for for like what what I'm wearing [00:03:25] right now for some pants. And I remember [00:03:28] watching her one day and she she was [00:03:32] going really slow right with the with [00:03:34] the sewing machine like buzzing like [00:03:36] like you know moving it and and then [00:03:39] these other ladies besides her were like [00:03:41] blasting [00:03:42] But she I guess she was more scared. She [00:03:45] was more I would say safe. Um and I [00:03:49] think that is almost a foreshadowing of [00:03:51] my future where I wasn't safe. Um I was [00:03:55] a risk taker. I'm a guy who goes allin [00:03:58] and she so I I asked her that question. [00:04:00] I said like, "Mom, why are you going so [00:04:04] slow and the others are going so fast?" [00:04:06] And they're like, "Oh, the others are [00:04:07] making a lot of money. I'm not making as [00:04:10] much money." money. So I was like, why [00:04:11] don't you make more money? And this is [00:04:13] when I'm like 3 years old. [00:04:15] >> Yeah. [00:04:15] >> Um, so I recognized at an early age like [00:04:19] certain things like that maybe [00:04:21] planted a seed in me for the future. So [00:04:24] I recognized that I would say [00:04:26] >> at an early age. [00:04:27] >> I can't wait to dig in a little bit [00:04:28] more. Before we do though, let me give [00:04:30] you everybody gets an introduction here. [00:04:32] >> Okay. Okay. [00:04:34] JU [00:04:36] founder, executive chairman and [00:04:37] president of nano nuclear energy. [00:04:40] Executive chairman and president of list [00:04:43] technologies the only US origin in [00:04:46] patented technology for laser uranium [00:04:49] enrichment. Started your career as an [00:04:51] analyst at Deutsch Bank on Wall Street. [00:04:53] Advocate for advanced nuclear energy and [00:04:56] American innovation. [00:04:58] Under your leadership, nanuclear energy [00:05:01] reached over three billion market [00:05:03] capitalization and value, raised over [00:05:06] 600 million to date, 1 billion of future [00:05:09] financing structured, and became Wall [00:05:12] Street's Cinderella story of 2024, is [00:05:15] the number one top IPO performer. That's [00:05:19] [ __ ] insane, dude. Congratulations. [00:05:22] >> Thank you. Uh, you have a degree in [00:05:24] psychology and you've said I'm not [00:05:27] supposed to be here. [00:05:29] >> That's right. [00:05:29] >> So, we're going to talk about your life [00:05:31] story, get into all things nuclear, but [00:05:36] Poly Market uh posted something pretty [00:05:39] relevant to what we're talking about [00:05:40] here recently. So Poly Market says that [00:05:44] there is only a 4% chance that the US [00:05:47] grants a license for new nuclear for a [00:05:51] new nuclear reactor in 2025. Do you [00:05:54] think it's possible that it happens in [00:05:56] 2026? [00:05:58] >> Uh there's so many I would say [00:06:01] developments happening um that could [00:06:04] possibly happen. So 4% I would say it's [00:06:08] kind of low. I would probably push it [00:06:10] towards 20%. But the larger reactors [00:06:14] that are being brought back um there's a [00:06:17] chance that happens where but but new [00:06:21] for for a new company I would say [00:06:24] not in the field where we're at which is [00:06:26] micro reactors. Um but for maybe some of [00:06:29] these larger ones out there that I'm not [00:06:32] aware of I would say. So, you think you [00:06:34] think there's a 20% chance that they'll [00:06:36] approve it by the end of 2025 or in 26? [00:06:39] >> 26. No, 25. I mean, it's it's pretty [00:06:42] much done. [00:06:42] >> Yeah, it's already [00:06:44] >> it's already done. Um, but 26 there is a [00:06:47] chance just because the current [00:06:49] administration is being so proactive and [00:06:52] they're advocating and even the [00:06:55] secretary of energy is saying under this [00:06:58] administration there will be a nuclear [00:06:59] renaissance. So I feel like there's so [00:07:02] much momentum in this space and you know [00:07:05] seeing some new nuclear reactor being [00:07:08] granted whether it's an old one that's [00:07:11] being brought back or and given to some [00:07:14] new player or um I don't think any [00:07:17] larger new ones will come online but [00:07:19] maybe an existing one that will be given [00:07:21] to a new player potentially. [00:07:23] >> Gotcha. Gotcha. Do you know how many [00:07:26] reactors are we have that are non that [00:07:28] that aren't working right now? I mean, [00:07:31] >> uh I don't I don't know exactly to to [00:07:33] that, but there's currently about 94 [00:07:36] civil nuclear reactors um in the US and [00:07:39] they're bringing more back online, I [00:07:41] would say. So, it might be a 95 96 soon, [00:07:44] but um that that was the last number I I [00:07:48] researched. [00:07:49] >> Right on. Right on. Well, couple things [00:07:52] to knock out here real quick. Everybody [00:07:53] gets a gift on the show. [00:07:55] >> Okay. [00:07:56] >> So, [00:07:57] you make nuclear reactors. I make gummy [00:08:00] bears. [00:08:01] >> So, I love gummy bears. [00:08:03] >> Good deal. [00:08:04] >> Yeah. I love gummy bears. [00:08:06] >> Uh and then I got a Patreon account. [00:08:09] It's a subscription account and uh [00:08:11] they're the reason that I get to be here [00:08:12] with you today. [00:08:13] >> Right. [00:08:14] >> So, one of the things I do is I offer [00:08:15] them the opportunity to ask every guest [00:08:17] a question. And this is uh from a a [00:08:20] former Navy nuke guy, Stephen Casey. [00:08:24] I'm a former US Navy nuclear power [00:08:27] operator of eight years. What is the [00:08:29] realistic risk associated with largecale [00:08:32] SMR use? We had 2 years of intensive [00:08:36] training before operating a reactor. [00:08:38] Nearly all nuclear accidents have been [00:08:41] from a lack of training/disregarding [00:08:43] safety protocols which would seem to [00:08:46] accelerate with widecale SMR [00:08:49] distribution. [00:08:53] Um [00:08:56] recall Cher Mobile 3 Island and SL1 in [00:08:59] Idaho a US Army reactor experiment all [00:09:03] of which melted down based on failure to [00:09:05] follow proper procedures. Is this level [00:09:08] of training for an SMR going to be [00:09:10] sufficient to prevent an accident? [00:09:13] >> Uh yes, it will be. Um and also we have [00:09:16] to look at the technologies here. The [00:09:18] technologies for small reactors or micro [00:09:21] reactors uh many of them are not using [00:09:23] liquid coolants like the big civil [00:09:25] reactors like what Chernobyl and [00:09:28] Fukushima uh what happened there. So [00:09:31] these reactors, the new nuclear [00:09:33] technologies, they use uh fuel like [00:09:36] trico which which we use at nano nuclear [00:09:40] where it's coated with essentially tank [00:09:42] armor. Um and it passively cools. It [00:09:45] could never explode. So training will be [00:09:48] in a different type of level I would [00:09:49] say. Uh but the safety profile is [00:09:53] totally different. Um, for example, [00:09:55] we're building our our Kronos MMR on the [00:09:59] campus of the University of Illinois and [00:10:01] literally across the reactor is dorm [00:10:04] rooms, right? So, [00:10:06] >> wow. [00:10:07] >> So, to answer his question, it's a [00:10:08] totally different ballgame here, I would [00:10:10] say, with new nuclear technologies with [00:10:13] micro reactors. This is called the Gen 4 [00:10:16] or the um walk away safe reactors, I [00:10:19] would call it. [00:10:20] >> Okay. Okay. That's good. That's that's [00:10:22] good to know. All right, Jay. So, let's [00:10:25] get into your life story. We got into it [00:10:27] a little bit about, you know, where you [00:10:29] grew up. I think we got to about 3 years [00:10:31] old. [00:10:32] >> Yeah, sure. Uh, so I I'll take it a step [00:10:35] back. Um, so my parents are from a farm [00:10:39] in southern China by Hong Kong. Uh, so [00:10:41] in that tropical weather. Uh, basically [00:10:45] I came here when I was 1 years old. So I [00:10:47] I I don't even remember anything about [00:10:49] China. Uh, I grew up on the upper west [00:10:52] side of of New York. Why did they come [00:10:54] to Manhattan? [00:10:55] >> Uh, they came here for a better life. [00:10:57] Um, you know, China is not the China [00:10:59] back then. Uh, I remember my dad saying [00:11:02] to me, you know, when when he was [00:11:04] extremely poor, uh, he would just eat [00:11:07] rice and salt like like having chicken [00:11:10] would be like, you know, lux a luxury [00:11:14] delicacy, right? So, [00:11:16] >> um, it was it was really bad back then, [00:11:18] I would say. Uh but you know the China [00:11:20] now when he goes back he's like he wants [00:11:23] to live there cuz he speaks Yeah. He [00:11:25] speaks the language over here. You know, [00:11:28] he never really took on English. He [00:11:32] knows enough to get by, but because New [00:11:34] York City, you could live in a cultural [00:11:37] bubble, right? So, there's Chinatown, [00:11:40] right? you just go. My parents literally [00:11:44] would just go shop in Chinatown, pick up [00:11:46] the food, see doctors there, um do all [00:11:49] their living, um day-to-day living [00:11:51] there, um buying things, [00:11:53] medicine,armacies, [00:11:55] and then just bring it back to the Upper [00:11:57] West Side. Uh so that culture didn't [00:12:01] have to change for them. And and New [00:12:03] York has that with the Latino community, [00:12:07] um with with other cultures as well. [00:12:10] Like you could live in a cultural [00:12:12] bubble. So my parents really never [00:12:14] learned full-on English even though [00:12:16] they've been here like 40some years. [00:12:18] >> Wow. [00:12:18] >> Yeah. [00:12:19] >> Wow. What? So he Your dad would go back [00:12:22] to China today, you think? [00:12:24] >> Oh, he's been back. He he's he loves it [00:12:26] there. Um recently though, he's he's [00:12:29] been diagnosed with like early stage [00:12:31] dementia. So he's kind of rehabbing here [00:12:34] and and figuring things out. But yeah, [00:12:36] he wants to live in China. He just he [00:12:39] loves it. It's the it's it's in a whole [00:12:41] new world. I mean, [00:12:43] >> you go to some of these cities, they're [00:12:45] more um I would say technology savvy [00:12:48] than the US. Like everything is at a [00:12:51] fingertip. Um everything no one carries [00:12:54] cash anymore. Um it's happening here [00:12:56] obviously cuz [00:12:58] >> what do you think about that? A lot of [00:12:59] people are worried about a cashless [00:13:01] society, you know, [00:13:04] >> social credit score, all that kind of [00:13:06] [ __ ] That's all going on over there. [00:13:08] Then then you add in crypto, right? So [00:13:11] this whole digital renaissance too is [00:13:14] happening [00:13:15] >> and that hard asset that cash you you [00:13:18] you would um transact with with um you [00:13:21] know merchants are are fading, right? [00:13:23] Everyone taps now. China's been tapping [00:13:27] for a while. Um no one carries cash [00:13:29] anymore. and uh he loves it out there [00:13:32] just because [00:13:34] certain areas he like he's he's lived in [00:13:37] certain villages and he it's cheap right [00:13:39] so he could live like a king out there [00:13:41] where over in Manhattan it's so [00:13:43] expensive right with inflation where out [00:13:46] there it's kind of controlled I would [00:13:47] say [00:13:48] >> right what do I mean what do you think [00:13:50] about that dad wants want to go live in [00:13:54] >> I mean he's he's been living he's been [00:13:57] traveling out there he'll ask me for [00:13:58] some money he's like hey son like [00:14:02] um I'm having a good time out here. And [00:14:04] you know what? When I look back at his [00:14:07] life, too, he was top of his class in [00:14:10] high school. And then when his teachers [00:14:13] all said, "Hey, what college are you [00:14:14] going to?" [00:14:16] He said, "I'm not going to college. My [00:14:18] mom said I have I have to work." So, he [00:14:20] picked up a trade which was carpentry. [00:14:23] Um so, he he's always been a studious [00:14:25] person. And like every single day I see [00:14:27] him reading the paper, reading books, [00:14:30] and I felt bad for him growing up [00:14:32] because I know his potential would have [00:14:35] been tremendous. He could have been a [00:14:37] scholar. Uh but because of his [00:14:39] circumstances, [00:14:41] he had to pick up a trade. Um and now [00:14:44] that he goes back, he feels amazing like [00:14:48] he could be someone, I would say. So I I [00:14:51] supported him on that because, you know, [00:14:54] he put in the work um to raise me and [00:14:57] and I never had a close relationship [00:14:59] with him. I think because of the [00:15:01] cultural difference and my I would say [00:15:05] Chinese is basically kindergarten level. [00:15:07] So I could never argue with my parents. [00:15:09] It's like stop or like I'm hungry, you [00:15:14] know? Like I could never really get into [00:15:17] it with them. So [00:15:18] >> damn, that is [ __ ] wild, man. I've [00:15:20] never [00:15:21] >> So I So I could talk about the foods I [00:15:23] like and things, but I could never get [00:15:25] deep like emotionally connected with my [00:15:28] parents. And I think that is the issue [00:15:31] um with me being Americanized. It's just [00:15:33] >> I lack that like understanding of their [00:15:36] history. [00:15:37] >> And they would tell me certain things [00:15:39] and and I understood, you know, parts of [00:15:43] it, but I never understood the whole [00:15:45] picture, I would say. [00:15:48] If you spend any time hunting, you [00:15:51] already know venison is one of the [00:15:52] cleanest proteins you can eat. It's [00:15:55] lean, it's high in protein, and it's [00:15:58] loaded with iron and B vitamins. No feed [00:16:01] lots, no confinement, none of the stuff [00:16:03] that comes with mass-roduced beef. But [00:16:06] the Axis deer on Maui are in a different [00:16:08] category of their own. Different animal, [00:16:11] different environment, different diet. [00:16:13] And you can taste it. It's cleaner, [00:16:15] milder, far less gamey, and [00:16:17] nutritionally impressive. Really unique [00:16:21] meat. The problem is you can't just go [00:16:24] out and get it. In most places, [00:16:26] harvesting and selling wild game is [00:16:28] heavily restricted, if not outright [00:16:30] illegal. That makes real access venison [00:16:33] almost impossible to find. There's one [00:16:36] company that's figured out how to do it [00:16:38] the right way, and that's Maui Newi. I [00:16:41] was actually introduced to them by my [00:16:42] friend Peter Aia and once I saw what [00:16:45] they were doing, it made a lot of sense. [00:16:48] They harvest wild access deer on Maui, [00:16:51] process it immediately, and ship it to [00:16:54] the mainland frozen, all under full USDA [00:16:57] inspection. With beef prices climbing [00:16:59] and ranchers under pressure, I've been [00:17:01] eating a lot more Maui Newi. The jerky [00:17:04] sticks, the always summer sausage, the [00:17:06] bone broth, all great. Extremely high in [00:17:10] protein for the calories, no added [00:17:12] sugar, easy to work into daily life, and [00:17:15] I feel noticeably better when I'm eating [00:17:18] it regularly. If you're curious, check [00:17:21] out Maui Nui. It's spelled M A UI. [00:17:25] Maui, like the island in Nui, Newi, [00:17:29] which means big. I'm telling you guys, [00:17:32] this stuff is the real deal. Go to [00:17:35] mauiwiven venison.com/srs [00:17:38] right now. [00:17:42] >> So are you are you would you consider [00:17:43] yourself close with your parents? No, of [00:17:46] course I'm close like with my mom and my [00:17:48] dad, but [00:17:50] >> you know I I just don't I I because I [00:17:54] have to operate so many companies and [00:17:55] and and my time I try to visit him like [00:17:59] currently he's in the hospital my dad uh [00:18:01] for for the re rehabbing from dementia [00:18:03] and and also he hurt himself recently so [00:18:06] he he is getting older so I'm trying to [00:18:08] visit him more spend more time with him [00:18:11] and you know he he really enjoys my time [00:18:14] when I see him. Um, I think he'll ask me [00:18:19] for like money and I'm like, "Why? Why? [00:18:21] You're in the hospital. Where are you [00:18:22] going to?" But I think he's like giving [00:18:24] it to the nurses [00:18:26] to to like to like, you know, maybe he [00:18:29] maybe he's like, "Yeah, scrub my balls [00:18:31] or something. I I don't know, right?" [00:18:33] Um, but but who knows? Who knows what's [00:18:36] happening. Uh, and I'm like, "Why why do [00:18:38] you need money?" And he's like, "Just [00:18:40] give me money." And then I think his [00:18:41] early dementia is kicking in. He'll say [00:18:43] to me every time I'm going he's like are [00:18:45] we going to have a barbecue tomorrow? [00:18:46] And I'm like yeah like what do you want? [00:18:50] You want some sweet and sour pork? Like [00:18:52] like you you know like you want some [00:18:54] barbecue chicken like so I just play [00:18:57] along with some of the stuff he says and [00:18:59] and and you know I'm just adding to to [00:19:01] to the fun you know like I'm making him [00:19:04] happy. I just all I care about is just [00:19:06] making the guy happy. [00:19:07] >> That's cool man. That's cool. So, how I [00:19:10] mean, so how did you you grew up in the [00:19:12] Bronx? [00:19:12] >> No, I grew up on the Upper West Side. [00:19:14] Yeah, he he worked he worked in the in [00:19:16] the Bronx. So, I grew up on the Upper [00:19:19] West Side. Uh there's a movie out there [00:19:22] called Little Manhattan [00:19:24] >> and it's about a kid who grows up pretty [00:19:27] much in a one mile radius of man. That's [00:19:30] like my life. So, I grew up on the upper [00:19:33] west side. Um, you know, I would say a [00:19:36] few avenues away is, um, Central Park. [00:19:39] Uh, you know, it's close to a synagogue. [00:19:42] And then I grew up with a lot of [00:19:45] Latinos. Um, so early early on, um, they [00:19:49] would teach me curse words, right? So, [00:19:52] so I'll learn all these curse words and [00:19:54] we'll be at like the park or, um, you [00:19:58] know, playing basketball or or even [00:20:00] manhunt in the Museum of Natural [00:20:02] History. That's a pretty cool situation. [00:20:04] Stick ball on the street, right? So, I [00:20:07] grew up like that typical inner city kid [00:20:10] life. And but it got me in trouble. Like [00:20:13] those words they taught me in Spanish, I [00:20:16] would regurgitate it to other Spanish [00:20:18] kids. And they're like, and I got into [00:20:20] many fights cuz I remember one time I [00:20:22] said something about your mother is [00:20:24] dead. All right. It translated to [00:20:26] something like that. And the guy was [00:20:27] like, "My mom is dead." And then I was [00:20:29] like, "Fuck." and and then he waited for [00:20:33] me to jump me with like 10 other kids. [00:20:36] So, literally I grew up like that inner [00:20:38] city life. Um and you know, I think it [00:20:42] built a lot of character in me. Uh but [00:20:45] yeah, I I would never trade it now. Like [00:20:47] I I really enjoy living and growing up [00:20:49] in in Manhattan. And and a lot of [00:20:51] people, how do you grow up in Manhattan? [00:20:53] It's crazy. There are residential [00:20:55] pockets of it, you know, um like the [00:20:57] Upper West Side where it is more [00:21:00] residential. There's not like [00:21:01] skyscrapers everywhere, right? Yeah. [00:21:05] >> I've always wondered what childhood [00:21:08] would be like in Manhattan. [00:21:10] >> Yeah. [00:21:10] >> It's uh [00:21:11] >> have any guns [00:21:12] >> every [00:21:13] >> That's why I don't live there. [00:21:14] >> Yeah. There you go. [00:21:16] >> But uh [00:21:16] >> Yeah. [00:21:17] >> But uh yeah, it's just it's like a whole [00:21:20] another world to me. I grew up out in [00:21:21] the woods. So [00:21:22] >> yeah. [00:21:23] >> But um so were you [00:21:26] were you into entrepreneurship business [00:21:29] as a at a young age? [00:21:31] >> Yeah. I I think you know living in [00:21:34] Manhattan you have that social economic [00:21:38] kind of separation right? You see just [00:21:41] just moving over one block [00:21:44] there's million-dollar homes right? [00:21:47] Condos, [00:21:49] brownstones. [00:21:50] And you move two avenues away, it's [00:21:53] tenement buildings, walkups, no [00:21:56] elevators. Um, you know, and I call it [00:22:00] railroad apartments where it's a long [00:22:02] narrow hall, and it's like there's your [00:22:05] kitchen, there's your bathroom, there's [00:22:07] your first bedroom, and then it leads [00:22:09] into another small bedroom. So, the [00:22:12] discrepancy is always there. Um, and [00:22:15] this is why I think there's a new mayor, [00:22:18] right? uh because he's saying, "Hey, I'm [00:22:21] going to try to fix that discrepancy [00:22:23] with the with the rich and the poor and [00:22:26] and give more of that medium um sense to [00:22:30] people where they could they could have [00:22:32] a better life, right? So, I grew up in [00:22:34] that type of situation where I see [00:22:37] kids having all these, you know, like [00:22:41] luxuries and they could eat certain [00:22:43] things and and I couldn't and I would [00:22:45] ask my parents like why can't I do [00:22:46] that?" But I realized that look, you [00:22:49] know, we just didn't have it [00:22:50] financially, right? [00:22:52] >> Yeah. Yeah. What um go down a little [00:22:55] rabbit hole. I mean, you live in [00:22:57] Manhattan, right? [00:22:57] >> Yes. [00:22:58] >> What is what is the sentiment about, [00:23:01] you know? [00:23:02] >> Um I think [00:23:05] >> I see a lot of people excited. I also [00:23:07] see a lot of people pissed. [00:23:08] >> Sure. I think initially there's that mad [00:23:11] rush situation with anything that [00:23:14] happens that's new. And you know in the [00:23:17] New York Post I was reading you know a [00:23:20] ton of people are buying houses in [00:23:22] Connecticut cuz they're trying to get [00:23:23] out now. Uh especially the the the um [00:23:27] the ultra high net worth. They're just [00:23:30] trying to move out because of the [00:23:31] increased taxes. Right. If you add one [00:23:34] 2% that makes a huge difference to some [00:23:36] of these larger whales. I I would call [00:23:38] them. Um so there's this frenzy of [00:23:41] buying houses kind of in the surrounding [00:23:44] tri-state area um and getting away from [00:23:47] that. But at the same time, [00:23:50] you know, I was in that world, right? [00:23:52] Like I was in the world where my parents [00:23:54] didn't have much money. So I recognize [00:23:57] why people voted for him, [00:23:59] >> right? So people with, let's say, where [00:24:03] I'm at now, they're I see why also they [00:24:07] want to run away now. Um because they [00:24:09] think there's just be too much too much [00:24:12] liberal things going on. Like even the [00:24:15] police already [00:24:16] um I mean it's it's been it's been well [00:24:19] well known that they don't have enough [00:24:20] power anymore. Like people aren't scared [00:24:23] of the police, right? When I grew up, [00:24:25] we're we're terrified. like you're [00:24:28] smoking a joint somewhere on the corner, [00:24:30] you're like, "Oh my god, oh my god, I'm [00:24:31] gonna die." And then and then not only [00:24:33] that, your parents, you come from [00:24:36] immigrant parents, they're gonna whip [00:24:37] your ass. You know, like my mom, my dad [00:24:40] will take [00:24:40] >> Well, you were probably growing up, [00:24:41] right, when Giuliani and Carrick were [00:24:44] cleaning the city up, right? [00:24:45] >> Yeah. Actually, I remember Giuliani when [00:24:48] he was um when he was getting like [00:24:52] advocating for votes, he was out on a [00:24:54] subway stop. I came out and he's like [00:24:56] handing out like vote for me. [00:24:58] >> No [ __ ] [00:24:59] >> I remember I was I was I was I think I [00:25:01] was in high school like or something. [00:25:03] But I remember all of that too. Um you [00:25:07] know yeah when that all happened you [00:25:10] know New York was a different place. I I [00:25:12] remember, you know, I think I think [00:25:14] Bloomberg started that like stop and [00:25:17] frisk thing situation and then, [00:25:20] >> you know, and then he went back when I [00:25:22] think he ran for president recently and [00:25:24] and he was like, "Oh, that was wrong of [00:25:26] me." [00:25:26] >> But is it wrong? Like, you know, does it [00:25:30] make New York safer? You just have to [00:25:32] think about this stuff. [00:25:33] >> Yeah. [00:25:34] >> What do you think? I mean, are you [00:25:35] excited he's in there? You got [00:25:37] >> I mean, I'm always indifferent about [00:25:39] things. I mean, I I I don't like the [00:25:41] fact that there's there will be higher [00:25:42] taxes potentially, but you know, like I [00:25:45] said, I've been on both sides, so, you [00:25:48] know, I'm indifferent. I I have to see [00:25:50] what he accomplishes. Got [00:25:52] >> like I can't really rush to judgment [00:25:54] right now. [00:25:55] >> Yeah. [00:25:56] >> Yeah. Good way to be. [00:25:57] >> Yeah. [00:25:58] >> All right. Well, let's keep going with [00:26:00] your childhood. [00:26:00] >> Sure. [00:26:02] >> Yeah. So, you know, grew up on the Upper [00:26:04] West Side, went to junior high school, [00:26:08] Columbus Academy, which was 10 blocks [00:26:12] away, then went to high school called [00:26:15] High School for Environmental Studies. [00:26:17] So, maybe once again, there's some type [00:26:20] of foreshadowing there. Uh, and that was [00:26:23] a mile away, right? And after [00:26:27] graduating, I felt like, you know what, [00:26:29] I'm just going to work and go to school. [00:26:31] That's what many I would say New Yorkers [00:26:34] do. They go to school and work at the [00:26:37] same. So they commute, right? They're [00:26:38] not they're not going away to, you know, [00:26:41] some universities and taking out massive [00:26:44] loans. Like I rather stay put, work at [00:26:48] the same time go to a city college where [00:26:51] it's not that expensive. There's [00:26:53] government subsidies. Uh so that's what [00:26:55] I did. But I took a long route. I [00:26:57] started at one college, Baroo. um wasn't [00:27:01] ready for college, so I I left. And [00:27:04] also, I think I just felt too poor in [00:27:07] life, so I ended up working three [00:27:09] part-time jobs. Um so, three jobs and [00:27:14] then I realized I need that paper. I [00:27:16] need that diploma. Um so, I sucked it [00:27:19] up. I actually ended up in community [00:27:21] college. [00:27:22] >> And you weren't you weren't like a [00:27:23] phenomenal student or anything? [00:27:25] >> Not books smart at all. I I really hated [00:27:27] school. Um, I mean, I graduated with a C [00:27:30] minus average in psychology. And the [00:27:33] reason why I picked psychology is the [00:27:34] easiest subject. Uh, so I I literally [00:27:37] wanted to just get the [ __ ] out. [00:27:40] Literally [00:27:41] >> a C minus average. [00:27:42] >> C minus average. I was like, let me get [00:27:44] the [ __ ] let me get out. Right. And um [00:27:48] and I graduated and I was like, that's [00:27:51] all I need, that piece of paper, because [00:27:53] that's not going to determine my future. [00:27:55] I'm going to determine my future. And [00:27:58] during that time, I would say this is [00:28:02] when I call it the matrix happened for [00:28:04] me. And the matrix to me is [00:28:08] being able to figure things out and [00:28:10] getting to where you want to get to, but [00:28:13] doing it in a different angle, I would [00:28:15] say like a loophole, you you you could [00:28:17] call it. So, you know, I was going to [00:28:20] school at City College in Harlem, uh, of [00:28:23] New York and, you know, uh, getting my C [00:28:27] minus degree out there and then, um, I [00:28:30] was working full-time at Colombia [00:28:32] University, which is a Ivy League, [00:28:34] right? So, once again, that discrepancy [00:28:38] there, right? [00:28:39] >> So, [00:28:40] >> what I realized when I was working at [00:28:42] Colombia is value creation. So value [00:28:46] creation to me is what can you do for [00:28:51] that employer or or that company to keep [00:28:55] you or to keep promoting you, right? So [00:28:58] what I did at Colombia is they had this [00:29:01] archaic financial system there like [00:29:04] multiple systems, accounts payable, [00:29:06] receivable, etc. And I learned every [00:29:10] single [00:29:12] financial system. Okay? And so when [00:29:14] Colombia restructured their departments, [00:29:17] they put a business manager in each one. [00:29:20] And I was about 21 years old, didn't [00:29:23] finish uh, you know, college yet. So I [00:29:26] didn't even have my bachelor's degree. [00:29:27] But I created value for them because I [00:29:30] knew all their systems and how to [00:29:32] operate that. So when they were [00:29:34] restructuring, I applied for that. But [00:29:36] the requirements was a bachelor's degree [00:29:38] with three years of experience. Didn't [00:29:40] have that. But I created value cuz I had [00:29:44] I learned all their archaic systems. So [00:29:47] the so they gave me a chance. They they [00:29:50] gave me the job and my assistant [00:29:53] actually had her master's degree. [00:29:55] >> Are you serious? [00:29:56] >> Yeah. So she was [ __ ] pissed at me. [00:29:59] She was like, "Who's this [ __ ] young [00:30:00] Asian kid? Is my boss now?" And but I [00:30:05] became the business manager of the [00:30:07] history department. And I I see you have [00:30:09] a ton of history uh here of of things. [00:30:12] So So I admire that. And and because I [00:30:17] created value and and then what came [00:30:20] with that is I get to take classes for [00:30:23] free in Ivy League. So I'm like, "Oh, [00:30:26] wait. You're telling me [00:30:28] I could be a Ivy Leaguer even though I'm [00:30:31] getting a C minus average up in City [00:30:34] College of New York and Harlem?" Right. [00:30:35] It's only a couple stops away. So it was [00:30:37] it was close by. Uh and then at that [00:30:40] point, you know, I I was in charge of I [00:30:44] think a dozen people in in the in the um [00:30:47] history department. They all reported to [00:30:49] a 21-year-old kid, but because I created [00:30:52] value and I knew all their archaic [00:30:53] system and I helped the professors with [00:30:57] their financial reporting as well [00:30:59] because they all get these massive [00:31:00] grants, right? and I was able to you [00:31:04] know re like put them together report it [00:31:07] properly and then also help help with [00:31:10] their travels and etc expenses. So [00:31:14] that part created value. And then the [00:31:16] next part is what I realized too is [00:31:19] at CUNI's or city colleges in New York, [00:31:23] you get the tier [00:31:26] two, three jobs, right? You get [00:31:29] different companies recruiting these [00:31:30] students from the tier 2, tier three [00:31:33] companies. Tier one companies go to the [00:31:36] Ivy Leagues. And then and then I said to [00:31:39] myself, I need to become a student. [00:31:43] The the only reason so I could get into [00:31:46] the job database. So that's what I did. [00:31:49] And this is where the matrix happened [00:31:51] for me. I I was able to convince um the [00:31:55] dean to let me in that I'm going to take [00:31:58] this is after I graduate. I just [00:32:00] graduated my psychology degree, C minus [00:32:02] average. He was like, "You got a C minus [00:32:04] average. Like I can't let you in here." [00:32:06] And I'm like, look, I just want to take [00:32:08] a few classes is not a big deal. And [00:32:11] then I got recommendations from the [00:32:13] professors I work for. So they all wrote [00:32:15] me recommendations. So the dean's like, [00:32:18] "Fine." So I I started becoming a [00:32:22] student. Obviously, I'm going to fail. [00:32:25] Like I I I didn't care, right? [00:32:27] >> I cared about the job, the tier one jobs [00:32:30] in there. And guess where [00:32:32] >> that job came from? Deutsche Bank, which [00:32:34] is an investment bank, um uh at 60 Wall [00:32:38] Street in in Manhattan. So, I said, [00:32:40] "Okay, I'm gonna apply for all these [00:32:42] investment banking jobs. I would [00:32:44] literally make it to the top three of [00:32:46] each one, but I had no experience, [00:32:48] right?" [00:32:49] >> Mhm. [00:32:49] >> And and then at Deutsche Bank, the [00:32:51] managing director, I I literally said to [00:32:53] him, "Look, I'm going to work harder [00:32:55] than anybody uh out there on the trading [00:32:58] floor. Uh I work full-time. I went to [00:33:01] school full-time, so hard work was [00:33:02] nothing new to me. And I'm going to bust [00:33:04] my ass and I'll learn everything. It's a [00:33:06] job, you know. I'm going to do it every [00:33:08] day. I'm going to I'm going to get [00:33:10] really good at it. I'll stay last here, [00:33:14] you know. Uh and he basically was like, [00:33:17] I like it. And and you know, I graduated [00:33:21] later. I was probably like 24. So most [00:33:23] people graduate what, 21, 22. I was 24. [00:33:26] So it's a bit older, but more life [00:33:28] lessons, I would say. and and work [00:33:30] experience than than just coming out of [00:33:33] college. [00:33:34] >> Mhm. When you talk about the matrix, [00:33:36] what do you can you be a little more [00:33:38] specific? [00:33:39] >> Yeah. So, the matrix to me is figuring [00:33:42] things out [00:33:44] but doing it in a way where it's [00:33:46] reachable, [00:33:48] >> right? Like for me to get that job on [00:33:50] Wall Street, [00:33:51] >> what happened to me is I grew up in [00:33:53] Manhattan. So, I said, "Where where do [00:33:56] you make money? Where where's all the [00:33:58] money coming from? Wall Street. So, how [00:34:01] do I get there? Right. [00:34:02] >> So, you figure out the goal and reverse [00:34:04] engineer how to get there. [00:34:05] >> Exactly. Okay. You just have to figure [00:34:07] out how to get there, but do it in a way [00:34:11] where it's actually doable, right? Like [00:34:14] the way I I've done it. Um, and this is [00:34:17] why I say I shouldn't be here just [00:34:19] because I figure things out. And I had [00:34:21] friends too, for example, this was a [00:34:24] slick thing on resumes. They'll put like [00:34:27] they were they went to school four years [00:34:29] but they've never graduated but the [00:34:31] employer thinks you you graduated so [00:34:35] they but they could have gone part-time [00:34:37] for four years right so they'll submit [00:34:39] their resume and a lot of these banks at [00:34:43] the time I mean maybe back then I don't [00:34:44] know about now but they wouldn't even [00:34:46] check I think their HR departments oh [00:34:48] they have four years at this college all [00:34:51] right that means he has his degree [00:34:54] they'll let him in and they and some of [00:34:55] my friends would get jobs too on Wall [00:34:58] Street because they put four years. [00:35:00] >> No [ __ ] [00:35:01] >> Yeah. I didn't do that. I did it [00:35:02] differently. But uh I got my C minus [00:35:05] average. [00:35:07] So they they didn't graduate, but I did, [00:35:09] you know. Um so yeah, I was there from [00:35:13] up till 209. This is when the big bank [00:35:16] meltdown happened and the financial [00:35:18] crisis. I mean, I think City Bank was at [00:35:20] a dollar a share. [00:35:22] um you know the everyone was was losing [00:35:26] money. Um it was a recession uh and so I [00:35:30] left I I saw my bonuses and my pay [00:35:33] pretty much vanish uh so I had to [00:35:36] reinvent myself. [00:35:38] >> How did you do that? So in 2009 left I [00:35:42] saved up some money uh and essentially [00:35:46] you know started investing into startups [00:35:50] um and into [00:35:53] uh yeah into startups and seeing how [00:35:56] these startups over time were being [00:35:57] built and I think that's where I learned [00:36:01] how to build the company. [00:36:02] >> What kind of startups were you [00:36:04] interested in? [00:36:04] >> Uh for example it it'll be very [00:36:08] diversified. I I didn't know what I was [00:36:09] doing, right? So, I would just put small [00:36:12] amounts of money like 10 grand, 20 grand [00:36:16] into certain things. Uh but the the real [00:36:19] experience I learned from that was, you [00:36:22] know, when you lose, you don't lose the [00:36:24] lesson. So, you know, many startups [00:36:26] fail. Let's let's admit that. Uh but [00:36:28] mainly what what I realize is the egos [00:36:32] of the founders. Um, also the [00:36:36] capabilities of [00:36:37] >> the egos of the founders. What do you [00:36:39] mean by that? [00:36:40] >> When I say that is [00:36:42] founders when they raise a certain [00:36:44] amount of money, [00:36:46] their heads get big. Um, they get their [00:36:48] 15 minutes of fame and they think, "Oh, [00:36:50] I made it." But to me, that's just the [00:36:54] first step. You got to keep going. But [00:36:56] many of these founders that I've [00:36:58] invested in, they had the egos. They [00:37:00] didn't have egos before, but once they [00:37:02] got money, it changed them. [00:37:04] and they became bad operators. They [00:37:07] weren't genuine with what they actually [00:37:09] say they're going to do. Right? So I I [00:37:13] think that that is one of the issues [00:37:14] I've seen on how many of these startups [00:37:17] fail is the egos of the founders or the [00:37:19] executives. They won't listen anymore. [00:37:22] They don't care about their [00:37:23] shareholders, what they say. Um they're [00:37:26] just going to do whatever they want to [00:37:28] do, [00:37:28] >> right? And and some of them even commit [00:37:31] fraud. Some of them buy cars for [00:37:33] themselves, do things. I mean, this is [00:37:37] how it works, right? Like, if your [00:37:39] intentions aren't good from inception, [00:37:42] it's never going to be good. [00:37:43] >> Mhm. [00:37:43] >> Yeah. [00:37:44] >> Mhm. [00:37:46] >> What else do you look for in founders? [00:37:49] >> I look for integrity. Um, their story [00:37:53] too is important about their life, I [00:37:55] would say. uh you know and [00:37:59] it's not even about track record. It's [00:38:01] more about [00:38:03] their integrity and what they've gone [00:38:05] through like like myself, right? Um and [00:38:08] who surrounds them too. like talking to [00:38:11] some of their other executives [00:38:13] um if they're like buddy buddies [00:38:16] and you know they don't really care how [00:38:20] you feel in the future like you could [00:38:22] sense these things and this is where I I [00:38:24] guess [00:38:25] I have a good knack for that. I have a [00:38:27] good knack with meeting someone in the [00:38:30] first 5 minutes I could tell who they [00:38:33] are. I mean I could tell from their [00:38:35] voice. You know when you meet people and [00:38:37] you you sense like they're fake, right? [00:38:40] I could sense that and I lose interest [00:38:42] really fast with people like that. Um [00:38:45] but you could sense these things. You [00:38:48] could ask certain questions and you know [00:38:51] you you've been part of some agencies [00:38:53] that interrogate things, right? So [00:38:57] these settle type of things like, oh, [00:39:01] oh, you said that you raised 100 grand [00:39:07] uh and you put 50, but now I but I [00:39:10] realize you didn't put that money in. [00:39:12] So, you know, these little clues like [00:39:14] you you you'll you'll just talk to them [00:39:16] over dinner or a drink and they'll [00:39:20] they'll they won't connect, right? These [00:39:23] certain little lines they say to you in [00:39:24] the beginning won't connect the second [00:39:27] or third time you meet them. Gotcha. [00:39:29] >> Um so founders is integrity egos, right? [00:39:33] You got to stay humble even if you raise [00:39:35] a lot of money or do things. And I think [00:39:37] that's why I've been successful is [00:39:40] because I say what I'm going to do and [00:39:44] also I'm a genuine person. I'm probably [00:39:46] a guy where if we do a handshake deal, [00:39:49] I'll honor that deal, right? Like that. [00:39:51] There's very few people I think in this [00:39:54] world that would do that these days. [00:39:55] Like everyone cares about themselves. [00:39:57] >> Yeah. [00:39:58] >> And I care more about the longer term [00:40:00] than the short term. [00:40:02] >> Like a long play. [00:40:03] >> Yes. I'm in it for the long haul. [00:40:05] >> Nice. [00:40:06] >> And this is where also, [00:40:08] >> you know, transitioning into Nano. We [00:40:10] could we could talk about that if if you [00:40:12] want right now. [00:40:13] >> Yeah, I absolutely want to talk about [00:40:14] that. I mean, the number one IPO of [00:40:16] 2024. Yes. worked out. [00:40:19] >> Yeah. And I I'll tell you a little bit [00:40:20] about that, too. So, [00:40:22] >> you know, let's I don't blame a lot of [00:40:25] the people who bet against Nano. Uh [00:40:29] because if you look at it from their [00:40:30] perspective, you have this big Asian guy [00:40:33] from New York City, public school kid, [00:40:36] never took a company public like from [00:40:40] inception, and out of nowhere, he's [00:40:44] building nuclear reactors. Impossible. [00:40:48] So, you know what happened is a ton of [00:40:51] hedge funds bet against us. Uh, and they [00:40:54] said, "No way this is happening." And [00:40:56] but they don't understand my history. [00:40:59] They don't understand I came from [00:41:00] nothing. So, I have nothing to lose, [00:41:02] right? Like, I have something to prove. [00:41:04] I have a legacy to build. my CEO who I [00:41:08] recruited, [00:41:10] uh, he went to the top boarding school [00:41:15] in the UK. He was poor. How did he get [00:41:18] there? He wrote his own essay to get in. [00:41:21] His IQ was off the charts. He's a [00:41:23] nuclear physicist, engineer, worked at [00:41:25] nuclear subs, um, Minister of Defense, [00:41:28] uh, worked at Rolls-Royce. So, he has [00:41:31] everything. But they bet against us [00:41:32] because they're like, "This is not [00:41:34] possible. These guys are going to do [00:41:35] this." But they don't understand that we [00:41:38] work till 4:00 a.m. in the morning while [00:41:40] they're they're all asleep. I would say [00:41:42] we're we're we're grinding. We're we're [00:41:44] we're we're cut from the same cloth. [00:41:46] We're going to battle. We're we're [00:41:48] warriors, right? Um and they [00:41:50] underestimated Nano and I think what [00:41:55] happened is they bet against us and you [00:41:58] know our stock ran and I I think uh we [00:42:02] were up like 600 700%. [00:42:05] We were the number one IPO performer in [00:42:08] America and it we shocked the world and [00:42:10] and not only that like all these [00:42:14] institutional guys, money banks, they [00:42:18] started looking at us different. They're [00:42:19] like, "Wait, the people joining them and [00:42:23] the things they're doing, there's [00:42:25] something here." Because why would these [00:42:28] former US national leaders be joining [00:42:30] Jay and James, right? And how's this [00:42:34] possible? like how are these generals [00:42:36] joining the um these guys? Like who are [00:42:39] they? It's it's because when I meet [00:42:41] them, I could do a handshake and I honor [00:42:44] my word and I've delivered. So that that [00:42:48] is kind of what I'm built about and and [00:42:51] even my CEO when I recruited him, he was [00:42:55] he told me I was crazy. Uh he said you [00:42:59] know I changed countries and industries [00:43:03] and you you're bringing me back into [00:43:05] nuclear. He's like there's no money in [00:43:07] nuclear. And I said no I think you know [00:43:12] there's a certain area in nuclear micro [00:43:14] reactors which is categorized as 20 [00:43:17] megawatts or less. There's no commercial [00:43:19] micro reactor in the world. So if we [00:43:22] able to jump in we can make some noise [00:43:25] there. Uh, and you know what I realized [00:43:29] about nuclear physicists and engineers [00:43:31] is they're almost like doctors where if [00:43:33] there's a dying person in front of them, [00:43:35] they're going to help them. But their [00:43:38] curiosity [00:43:40] of building something is what drives [00:43:43] them. So he naturally said, "Okay, I [00:43:46] I'll I'll take this leap of faith with [00:43:48] you." And ever since then, he's like, [00:43:51] "Thank you." You know, like you changed [00:43:53] my life. Um, and you were right. I I [00:43:57] didn't see something that that that you [00:43:59] saw. Uh, but what I saw at the time is I [00:44:03] saw solar and wind. Um, especially many [00:44:06] stocks, they were tapering off. They [00:44:08] were already really high. Government [00:44:10] subsidies have boosted them. Um, and you [00:44:15] know, all these countries were talking [00:44:17] about net zero goals [00:44:20] by 2035, 2040. [00:44:23] How are you going to get there without [00:44:25] nuclear? That was my thesis. I was like, [00:44:27] how I don't get how all these countries [00:44:30] are going to reach these net zero goals [00:44:32] and and decarbonize their countries [00:44:34] without nuclear. Um, and then this is [00:44:37] where kind of the aha moment when when I [00:44:40] brought in my number two, we said, "This [00:44:42] is where we're going to focus on." Um, [00:44:44] and then I could tell you what happened [00:44:46] next. [00:44:50] >> We've all seen it. The Department of War [00:44:52] is operating in a world that's changing [00:44:55] faster than ever. That's why so many [00:44:57] guests on my show talk about the [00:44:59] importance of continued innovation and [00:45:02] technology in the military. But here's [00:45:04] the problem. Working with the Department [00:45:06] of War can be complex. For many [00:45:08] companies, the process isn't always [00:45:10] transparent. It's hard to know who the [00:45:13] right stakeholders are, where the [00:45:15] decisions are made, or how funding [00:45:17] actually moves. Even when you get the [00:45:20] right conversation started, you often [00:45:22] hear the same responses. We like the [00:45:24] technology, but funding is already [00:45:27] allocated or check back next fiscal [00:45:30] year. That leaves a lot of capable teams [00:45:32] with strong products, but no clear path [00:45:35] forward. That's where my friends at SBIR [00:45:38] Advisors come in. They've built a team [00:45:40] of over 60 former acquisition officers [00:45:43] who spent their careers inside that [00:45:46] black box. They help you find the right [00:45:48] buyers in the Department of War, find [00:45:50] the money and write winning proposals so [00:45:54] you can get on the right contract and [00:45:56] fast. Since 2020, they've helped small [00:45:59] businesses like yours win over $600 [00:46:02] million in government contracts. And [00:46:05] they're a 100% veteran team dedicated to [00:46:09] one thing, getting the best technology [00:46:12] into the hands of the people who need it [00:46:14] the most, the war fighters. If you're [00:46:16] serious about selling to the Department [00:46:18] of War, go to sbiradvisors.com. [00:46:21] That's sbiradvisors.com. [00:46:26] And if you mention my name, you'll get [00:46:28] the first month free. [00:46:32] Do you feel it that something's off? [00:46:35] >> This is Propaganda as a weapon. [00:46:37] >> The revolutionary audio docue series. [00:46:40] >> It's essential for the experiment that [00:46:42] you continue. [00:46:43] >> Hosted by Sha Ryan. They're called scops [00:46:46] is now available to you for free. [00:46:49] >> There's no question that it is my [00:46:51] control. [00:46:52] >> Hear from whistleblowers. [00:46:53] >> Why have I got a letter from the CIA? [00:46:55] >> Shocking insights from experts. [00:46:57] >> If you've ever wondered who's really [00:46:59] pulling the strings, it's time to find [00:47:02] out. [00:47:06] >> Target Intelligence SCOP, an ironclad [00:47:09] original hosted by Sha Ryan. Listen [00:47:12] today wherever you get your podcasts or [00:47:15] watch the enhanced version on YouTube at [00:47:18] this is ironclad. [00:47:24] >> Real quick before we go into what [00:47:26] happened next. I'm just I mean so you [00:47:28] must have made a substantial amount of [00:47:32] money through your I mean were you with [00:47:36] a VC firm or were you private? [00:47:38] >> No, I was just by myself. Yeah. I mean, [00:47:40] I was able to [00:47:42] what I was really good at is picking [00:47:44] trends in the future. So, one trend I [00:47:48] was very heavily involved was was [00:47:51] cannabis, the rise of cannabis, right? [00:47:53] In New York City, every corner has like [00:47:56] a cannabis uh store now, but back then [00:47:58] everything is illegal. Um, so what [00:48:01] happened here was in Canada there was a [00:48:04] tremendous amount of companies that were [00:48:07] going public up in Canada and I invested [00:48:11] in many of those companies that were you [00:48:13] know preo or private companies. So I I [00:48:18] had that knack I would say of predicting [00:48:20] that as well and then um and then in the [00:48:24] meantime I was investing into other [00:48:26] companies biotechs but once again many [00:48:29] of them failed but the ones that I [00:48:31] picked like the sector focused ones [00:48:33] there would many of them would succeed [00:48:36] not all of them but many of them would [00:48:37] succeed. And then for example, gold. [00:48:41] When gold was 900 an ounce, I I I [00:48:45] actually liked the price of gold at that [00:48:47] time. Now we reached over 4,000 an [00:48:49] ounce. But [00:48:50] >> I I remember I was in um London and I [00:48:54] was with a hedge fund buddy of mine and [00:48:56] we were in the um richest area of London [00:49:01] which is called Mayfair. [00:49:03] And I was like, I really like it, but [00:49:06] I'm tired of writing a check to these [00:49:08] companies and not knowing and and then [00:49:11] that the executives can't execute and [00:49:13] operate. So, I was able to convince him [00:49:17] to to to put a structure a deal [00:49:19] together. Um, he was able to find an [00:49:23] asset up in Canada. We we raised company [00:49:27] uh raised money and took it public. Um, [00:49:29] and it was called Mayfair Gold. So I I [00:49:32] think right now it's still worth, you [00:49:35] know, 300 something million. We've [00:49:37] raised over a hundred something million. [00:49:39] Oh [ __ ] [00:49:39] >> Um and you know there's been a [00:49:44] tremendous amount of interest now in in [00:49:46] that. uh you know so I've always had a [00:49:50] knack for picking I would say sectors [00:49:53] but when I turned 40 [00:49:56] and this whole nuclear thing like I had [00:49:58] this feeling about nuclear [00:50:00] uh I said you know what I'm tired of [00:50:02] writing checks to people I'm going to [00:50:04] invest in myself and and when I used to [00:50:09] go with some of these company executives [00:50:11] to um they call it non-deal road shows [00:50:14] or deal road shows meaning they're [00:50:16] raising capital or they're marketing [00:50:18] their company. I was never impressed by [00:50:21] these guys. I would go and they and [00:50:23] they'll raise all this money and I'm [00:50:25] like that's it? Like this is what I'm up [00:50:29] against. And I said I'm going to build I [00:50:34] think I could build the company better [00:50:35] than these guys. And you know my thesis [00:50:39] was right, but it takes a a a lot of [00:50:42] work. It takes a lot of human capital [00:50:44] connection. Um like for instance, let's [00:50:48] go back to nano [00:50:51] you know I looked up who which [00:50:53] universities in the world are top in [00:50:56] nuclear engineering [00:50:59] and I flew to UC Berkeley [00:51:03] and I met with the chair of the [00:51:05] department [00:51:07] at his favorite cafe on campus and I [00:51:09] said you know I want to build a micro [00:51:13] reactor. um and I'll pay you for it. Um [00:51:19] but you know, you just have to believe [00:51:22] in in me and join me. And I was able to [00:51:25] sell him on this idea. And because he's [00:51:28] so, like I said, nuclear engineers are [00:51:30] so inquisitive, they're like, "Okay, [00:51:34] we'll see. We'll see what you could do." [00:51:36] Right? So I I was able to bring the [00:51:38] chair of that department on. Then I [00:51:41] said, "Okay, with my capital markets [00:51:43] background, I said, you know, you see a [00:51:46] lot of these biotech companies, they [00:51:48] have one drug and if they don't make it [00:51:51] to the FDA approval, it tanks the whole [00:51:53] company." So I wanted to diversify or [00:51:56] hedge myself. So I went to Cambridge in [00:51:59] the UK and I met the chair of that [00:52:01] department and I said, "Hey, I want to [00:52:06] build a micro reactor. I want to hire [00:52:07] you." two different designs which will [00:52:10] be hedged in case something happens one [00:52:13] or the other doesn't succeed right so so [00:52:16] we put worldclass technical teams [00:52:19] together and then I was able to raise [00:52:22] the seed capital from the former sea [00:52:25] level executives of UPS the largest [00:52:28] transportation company in the world and [00:52:31] I said look we want to make nuclear [00:52:34] scalable transportable and they said we [00:52:37] know transport um but they knew nothing [00:52:40] about nuclear. So what what they did is [00:52:43] they went to Morgan Stanley and they [00:52:45] talked to their energy desks and they [00:52:48] said to Morgan, tell us everything about [00:52:51] nuclear, small nuclear, what what do you [00:52:53] like about it? And they basically helped [00:52:56] us. They they said, you know, we're [00:52:58] bullish on nuclear. We see great things [00:53:01] for it coming. Um and small nuclear is [00:53:04] is rising. there's there's a lot of buzz [00:53:06] about it. So, I was able to now get my [00:53:10] seed money to pay these these worldass [00:53:14] technical guys to to start designing and [00:53:17] structuring and developing [00:53:20] um the micro reactor designs, right? Uh [00:53:23] so that's how I was able to get these [00:53:26] world-class people. Um but once again, [00:53:28] it took a lot of my I would say human [00:53:31] capital convincing. Um, and I think [00:53:34] these days what I did, people are [00:53:37] copying now, too. So, um, I see a lot of [00:53:40] now new nanos popping up all over the [00:53:44] place. Like every single week there's [00:53:46] like a new nano, right? Um, [00:53:48] >> so were you the first one in the space? [00:53:51] >> We were the first one to be publicly [00:53:53] listed. [00:53:54] >> Okay. [00:53:54] >> So, micro reactors have been around for [00:53:56] decades. Um, but we're looking to [00:54:00] commercialize it, right? Like remember [00:54:02] there's no commercialized micro reactor [00:54:04] in the world. So that was a new [00:54:06] frontier. And so we were the first [00:54:09] publicly uh company to be listed um as a [00:54:14] vertically integrated micro reactor. [00:54:16] >> Okay. Okay. What I mean what so we we [00:54:20] kind of you know you talked about net [00:54:22] zero and and and renewables and green [00:54:25] energy and all that kind of stuff but [00:54:27] what what what got your interest [00:54:29] specifically in micro reactors? [00:54:31] >> Yeah. So [00:54:34] number one for the business side was [00:54:36] there was no commercial micro reactor. [00:54:39] Number two was there's a lot of historic [00:54:42] data around different uh types of micro [00:54:45] reactors. And then three, my CEO had a [00:54:51] lot of connections also with his [00:54:53] previous like nuclear um kind of [00:54:56] networks about that. So we decided to [00:54:59] focus on that because the use cases are [00:55:01] way different than civil nuclear [00:55:03] reactors, right? If you're able to [00:55:05] transport and scale nuclear, think about [00:55:10] uh island communities, right? Um [00:55:14] northern communities in Canada that that [00:55:17] run on diesel, right? So essentially [00:55:21] replacing diesel generators, right, with [00:55:24] consistent base load energy. Think of um [00:55:28] natural disaster relief, being able to [00:55:30] bring it in. Um, think about military [00:55:33] deployment, right? If you think about [00:55:36] what's happening these days, especially [00:55:38] in Russia and the Ukraine, it's a new [00:55:41] frontier. You have drones fighting and [00:55:44] how are drones powered, right? So, [00:55:47] energy is the X factor these days, [00:55:50] right? And then you see Russia right now [00:55:54] hitting all the energy systems in [00:55:56] Ukraine, right? If you're able to bring [00:55:59] a transportable micro reactor, right, [00:56:03] you have energy in different locations. [00:56:06] Um, so this helps democratize energy [00:56:10] across the world, but also it helps lift [00:56:13] humanity. So if you think about Africa, [00:56:16] Africa was a use case for us. The whole [00:56:19] continent has no national grid, right? [00:56:22] So you have a lot of these remote [00:56:24] communities, right? But if you think [00:56:25] about uplifting humanity there, there's [00:56:29] certain areas that have no hospitals. [00:56:32] Um, you know, you could bring in a micro [00:56:34] reactor and now you have desalination. [00:56:37] You you could build hospitals. You could [00:56:39] there's so much you could do, right? [00:56:42] >> Water, right? So all of this is a X [00:56:45] factor. And this was the thesis too [00:56:49] besides the net zero goals of all these [00:56:51] countries is lifting up humanity. Um [00:56:55] being able to bring energy to the front [00:56:58] lines of different situations like right [00:57:02] now the army is is has a massive [00:57:04] program. They're launching a whole micro [00:57:07] reactor program funding that right. So [00:57:11] the world is changing. Um military is [00:57:15] changing. Nano uh this year also won a [00:57:18] direct to phase 2 award with the closest [00:57:21] joint military base in DC, [00:57:24] >> right? And [00:57:26] they they want to be able to have energy [00:57:29] off-rid [00:57:31] so in case something happens. So they're [00:57:34] looking at our chron we call it Kronos [00:57:37] MMR which is micro modular reactor and [00:57:40] we're doing a feasibility study there [00:57:42] now which we won that award and we're [00:57:45] looking at certain areas on the base [00:57:47] where we could install that for them [00:57:50] right and and you know they're very [00:57:52] excited about this we're very excited [00:57:54] about this but that is going to be a use [00:57:57] case for us for the military aspect as [00:57:59] well. Wow. I mean, did the did the AI [00:58:03] race or any of that, you know, kind of [00:58:05] stuff? [00:58:06] >> Oh, yeah. No, I mean, [00:58:08] >> put an impact into your decision as [00:58:10] well. [00:58:10] >> Yes. Um, I mean, we didn't know this was [00:58:13] all going to transpire like this, uh, [00:58:16] with AI data centers and all the big [00:58:18] tech companies pouring in. [00:58:20] >> You didn't know this back then? [00:58:21] >> I mean, [00:58:22] >> so this is Holy [ __ ] [00:58:23] >> Yeah, we this this was just Yeah, this [00:58:26] was just a perfect storm. This is a rare [00:58:28] situation where [00:58:31] you know you have government backing [00:58:34] everything. You have the giant tech [00:58:37] companies pouring in because of AI and [00:58:40] data centers. And then you have now also [00:58:44] a new generation of technology that's [00:58:47] come on that's walk away safe that can [00:58:50] never explode. [00:58:52] So it it's just this marriage of of this [00:58:55] opportunity and time, right? It's just a [00:58:59] rare situation. And once again, this is [00:59:02] where the matrix happens. And I believe [00:59:06] there's a higher power pushing Nano, [00:59:08] too. And what I mean by that is there's [00:59:11] certain things that it's almost like no [00:59:13] coincidence that happens um while I was [00:59:16] building Nano. For instance, my last [00:59:19] name is you. And [00:59:23] you know, I I built Nano on my LA in my [00:59:26] last office on the 38th floor. If you [00:59:29] put that together, U38 or is commonly [00:59:32] known as U308, which is uranium, okay? [00:59:36] Which is, [00:59:37] >> you know, the the the fuel for for these [00:59:41] reactors, right? Um and then [00:59:45] and then when we go public our stock, [00:59:48] you know, we did a IPO at $4 a share. [00:59:52] Our stock goes from $4 to $38. [00:59:55] So this 38 number has been following me. [00:59:58] And then [01:00:00] >> and if you know Chinese culture, we like [01:00:02] eights, right? Eights eights, right? And [01:00:06] so 38's been following me. And then Nano [01:00:09] was able to acquire [01:00:12] out of bankruptcy a leading micro [01:00:15] reactor technology that went bankrupt. [01:00:17] It didn't go bankrupt because of the [01:00:20] technology. It went bankrupt because the [01:00:23] biggest funer passed away. And he was a [01:00:26] he was a former CIA guy. His name is [01:00:28] Richard Helms, I believe. And I don't [01:00:31] know where he got the money, but he [01:00:32] funded he funded that company like $130 [01:00:36] something million dollars and he passed [01:00:39] away and his family [01:00:41] I I believe they didn't care about [01:00:43] nuclear. So um so it was an opportunity [01:00:47] for us now. We came in bought that [01:00:51] technology and it leapfrogged Nano now [01:00:54] to becoming one of the leaders if not [01:00:56] the leader in micro reactor technology [01:00:58] in the world. Um, and it came with guess [01:01:01] what? 38 issued and pending patents. Are [01:01:05] you serious? [01:01:07] This is this is what I'm saying. There's [01:01:10] just been so many crazy things that [01:01:12] happened that it's unbelievable. [01:01:15] And now, so when people attack us early [01:01:18] on and we were the number one IPO [01:01:20] performer, [01:01:22] I just put my head down and work because [01:01:24] I know it's going to work out itself for [01:01:26] some reason. like it's so crazy. Um [01:01:31] there's just been so many things [01:01:34] that it's just unbeliev [01:01:38] um that movie Oppenheimer, you know, it [01:01:40] came out. I think it won a ton of [01:01:42] awards. I don't know if you watched [01:01:44] this, but this is another goosebump [01:01:47] moment for me. I was watching it [01:01:50] and Oppenheimer, you know, he he he he [01:01:53] helped build the first atomic bomb, [01:01:55] right? [01:01:57] Where did he recruit his scientists [01:02:00] from? [01:02:02] UC Berkeley and Cambridge. It gave me [01:02:04] goosebumps. I was like, get the [ __ ] out [01:02:08] of here. Like Oenheimer did this. I [01:02:12] didn't even know I knew nothing about I [01:02:13] don't even read about Oppenheimer. Like [01:02:15] I just did things myself. Right. So [01:02:18] >> wow. [01:02:18] >> So these are the little things that are [01:02:20] like so freaky. I'm just like it's is [01:02:24] almost unbelievable. And then what's [01:02:27] unbelievable is, you know, within a year [01:02:30] and a half, we raised since inception [01:02:33] over $600 million. [01:02:36] I mean, we go from an unnamed [01:02:39] group of guys and company like they're [01:02:42] not real. They're not doing this to now [01:02:44] being one of the leaders and now having [01:02:46] the money to make this happen. It's not [01:02:49] about if we're building it, it's about [01:02:51] when now, right? So, we shocked the [01:02:55] world and and many of these nuclear guys [01:02:59] are now looking at us different because [01:03:01] they're like, "Wow, Nano is a real [01:03:03] player now." Um, and not only that, like [01:03:06] once again, we recruited worldass [01:03:10] technical teams, but also former US [01:03:12] national leaders like our chair of our [01:03:14] advisory board is Rick Perry, right? [01:03:17] Former secretary of of um energy and [01:03:20] under the last Trump administration. And [01:03:22] then I hired the former CFO of the [01:03:26] Department of the Energy. And then I [01:03:28] brought in a four-star general, Wesley [01:03:30] Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander [01:03:33] of NATO forces. Right. And then I [01:03:35] brought in General Terry Rubling. He was [01:03:38] head of the U Marines in the Asian [01:03:40] Pacific. And apparently he is the real [01:03:44] life Top Gun, not Tom Cruz. Okay. So, [01:03:48] um, you know, we brought so many [01:03:51] highlevel people to to the table and [01:03:54] everyone's just like in in awe and and [01:03:56] they're shocked um because we came in [01:04:00] and I felt confident guiding the company [01:04:04] um post IPO uh because we have that [01:04:07] grit. We just have that warrior spirit [01:04:10] and and I think it's from the history [01:04:12] and the upbringing I had. I mean, it's [01:04:15] just a all-in type of mentality, right? [01:04:17] I grew up with nothing like like what [01:04:20] are you what are you doing against this [01:04:21] means nothing to me. I'm just going to [01:04:23] put my head down and build. [01:04:24] >> Right. [01:04:25] >> Mhm. Damn. [01:04:28] That is [ __ ] impressive, man. [01:04:30] Congratulations. [01:04:31] >> Thank you. [01:04:32] >> Wow. Wow. Are you guys talking about [01:04:35] sending some of these mini reactors up [01:04:38] to space, too? [01:04:39] >> Oh, yeah. I mean, that's part of, you [01:04:43] know, the the whole type of new [01:04:45] frontier, right? [01:04:47] >> Um, you know, I think I think with with [01:04:50] SpaceX and with all these, you know, [01:04:53] rocket company um going into space and [01:04:57] raising tons of billions of dollars as [01:04:59] well, one of the issues is energy, [01:05:03] right? like if you're able to bring a [01:05:07] scalable nuclear reactor and a [01:05:09] transportable one to let's say the moon, [01:05:12] right? And that's one of the mandates [01:05:14] too. I um I I think under this [01:05:16] administration they announced recently [01:05:18] they want to put a reactor on the moon. [01:05:20] They want to be the first country to do [01:05:22] that. I mean you're you're you're going [01:05:24] against Russia and China, right? So um [01:05:27] they're trying to they announced they [01:05:28] want to focus on that and our reactor [01:05:30] design is perfectly for that. We have a [01:05:33] design um we call it Loki um that could [01:05:38] go up there and and and and and [01:05:41] be on the boom. [01:05:42] >> How many different reactors do you have? [01:05:44] >> So we have a portfolio reactors. Um I [01:05:47] call it I would say large, medium, and [01:05:50] small, but the large still being small. [01:05:53] Okay. So our large one is called Kronos. [01:05:56] Um, it's a 15 megawatt electric output [01:06:00] and 45 megawatt thermal. And then we [01:06:03] have low. [01:06:04] >> What does that mean? [01:06:05] >> That means it could power 15 megawatt [01:06:08] electric. I would say it could power [01:06:11] maybe 15,000 homes. [01:06:13] >> Okay. [01:06:14] >> Right. [01:06:14] >> Um, [01:06:16] and then Loki is between 1 to 5 megawws. [01:06:21] And then we have our Zeus reactor which [01:06:24] was developed by the University of [01:06:27] Illinois's professors that I recruited [01:06:29] and that design is to me it's probably [01:06:33] the most simplest design in the world. [01:06:36] Um and that is going to be under 1 [01:06:40] megawatt. So that that is used for the [01:06:43] military is really really interested in [01:06:45] that cuz that could be deployed in the [01:06:47] front line to power the drones um to [01:06:50] move the camps the military bases right [01:06:54] um so so yeah we have a portfolio and [01:06:57] they're all I would say called high gas [01:07:00] temperature reactors and so so we keep [01:07:04] the same type of designs and we kind of [01:07:06] flow it down um and what that means is [01:07:10] we we also use that tricoof fuel. So [01:07:13] tricofuel actually the governments [01:07:16] poured billions of dollars into um R&D [01:07:18] into it. So many of these companies now [01:07:21] that are developing micro reactors or [01:07:23] SMRs or small modular reactors, they're [01:07:26] all using that type of same combination [01:07:29] like high gas temperature reactor with [01:07:31] trico because it makes the most sense. [01:07:34] And um and it seems like many of these [01:07:36] other larger companies are also doing [01:07:39] that as well. And and remember trico [01:07:42] it it's coated with pretty much tank [01:07:45] armor. It it it can never explode. It [01:07:48] just passively cools, right? If anything [01:07:50] happens, there's like a auto shutdown. [01:07:53] Um you shoot a rocket at it, the fuel [01:07:56] doesn't explode. Again, it could it [01:07:58] could it could crack, but they never [01:08:00] chemically kind of interact with each [01:08:02] other. And and that's why we call it [01:08:05] walk away safe. Um so we when we [01:08:08] acquired uh the technology from [01:08:11] bankruptcy [01:08:13] it came with two demonstration sites. [01:08:15] One partnered with the University of [01:08:17] Illinois. We reestablished that and [01:08:20] recently we also broke ground there. We [01:08:23] had a a ceremony with the university and [01:08:27] um they're very happy that you know [01:08:29] we're bringing this project back to [01:08:31] life. Uh, so we broke ground and we're [01:08:34] planning to submit a construction [01:08:36] application with the Nuclear Regulatory [01:08:38] Commission um in Q1 of 2026. [01:08:41] >> Wow. [01:08:42] >> Yeah. So, what that means is hopefully [01:08:44] within a year, a year and a half, we'll [01:08:47] be able to pour concrete and steel and [01:08:49] start building the reactor. And the [01:08:51] reactor is buried on campus. And like I [01:08:54] said, right across the street from the [01:08:57] reactor is dorm rooms. So this is why we [01:09:00] call it walk away. And you think the [01:09:02] university would allow that situation to [01:09:06] happen if they didn't know from their [01:09:08] experts that this is actually safe. [01:09:10] >> Yeah. [01:09:10] >> Right. So this is a whole new world, a [01:09:13] whole new nuclear technology and people [01:09:16] have to kind of you know rewire their [01:09:20] minds about nuclear now. [01:09:22] >> I mean what do you think what do you [01:09:24] think that [01:09:25] unleashing nuclear [01:09:28] what's going to happen? What? Are we [01:09:29] going to hit a golden age? [01:09:31] >> Because everybody I've talked, you're [01:09:33] not the only nuclear guy I've talked to. [01:09:34] Everybody's gung-ho about it. Yeah. [01:09:37] >> And you know, and and everybody's super [01:09:40] gung-ho about It seems like uh this [01:09:42] administration's getting rid of a lot of [01:09:44] the red tape that has been holding [01:09:47] progress in this sector back for for [01:09:50] long [ __ ] time. [01:09:51] >> Yes. [01:09:52] >> You know, so what I mean [01:09:54] >> I guess first question I mean do are you [01:09:57] obviously Obviously, you wouldn't be in [01:10:00] it if you didn't think the red tape was [01:10:02] disappearing. So, what I mean, what does [01:10:04] this unleash? What what is what is what [01:10:07] is going to change in everyday [01:10:10] Americans lives? I think you have to [01:10:14] look at the whole kind of supply chain [01:10:17] of things, right? You have now AI and [01:10:21] data centers being built. [01:10:23] >> Mhm. [01:10:24] >> That's going to take years. you know, [01:10:26] there's not going to be built overnight. [01:10:28] And these are massive infrastructures, [01:10:30] right? Like Amazon's pouring tens of [01:10:33] billions of dollars into this. Meta, um, [01:10:36] Google, um, you know, Oracle, like a lot [01:10:39] of these players are looking at nuclear [01:10:42] as an option. and Nvidia with Jensen [01:10:45] Wang, he recently said also that a lot [01:10:49] of these small reactors are going to [01:10:52] come online with these data centers, [01:10:55] right? So let's look at that whole kind [01:10:58] of cycle. You have energy is the X [01:11:02] factor, right? It is the bottleneck [01:11:05] right now. So with with these small [01:11:09] reactors, you're able to now create all [01:11:12] this data centers and AI um or be a part [01:11:16] of the situation, right? But you're able [01:11:19] to do that, how is it going to impact, [01:11:20] how's AI, we hearing it every day. How's [01:11:22] AI going to impact our lives? So you [01:11:26] need the energy to create the AI, right? [01:11:30] In order to deliver it and change our [01:11:32] lives. So you have this kind of whole [01:11:34] cycle here. But once again, the X factor [01:11:37] is energy. So if you're able to create a [01:11:41] scalable factory fabricated situation [01:11:45] where you can massroduce nuclear, you [01:11:48] have that base load energy. It's [01:11:50] carbon-f free and then you could deploy [01:11:54] it off-rid, right? So you don't have [01:11:56] that burden on the grid anymore, [01:11:59] >> right? You could you want to build a [01:12:00] data center bring it anywhere. I [01:12:03] recently came back from speaking at the [01:12:05] largest largest energy conference in uh [01:12:09] in the UAE in Abu Dhabi. I was [01:12:12] approached by a company wanting to build [01:12:15] data centers in the desert. How are you [01:12:18] going to do that? Only way to do that is [01:12:20] with nuclear, right? So that is how [01:12:24] crazy [01:12:26] um things are are are moving and the [01:12:29] world is catching on to this right you [01:12:32] have now the Middle East very interested [01:12:35] in this uh because they know oil is [01:12:38] finite right um if if they want to let's [01:12:42] say they want their hands around energy [01:12:44] in the future you're going to have to [01:12:45] invest in nuclear [01:12:47] >> so there there is a lot of interest from [01:12:50] um the Middle East right now with small [01:12:52] reactors. Uh the UAE just built um I [01:12:56] believe five of them. So nuclear [01:12:58] reactors, right? So they're all coming [01:13:01] online, too. And they're all kind of [01:13:03] changing their mindset like we can't [01:13:05] just focus on oil anymore. [01:13:08] >> Wow. The Middle East is is wow. Yeah. I [01:13:12] mean what what about I mean that so I I [01:13:15] know you know an abundance of energy [01:13:18] will jet launch artificial intelligence [01:13:20] but what about production costs [01:13:24] transportation costs you know uh we were [01:13:27] talking about you know space all that [01:13:29] kind of [ __ ] I mean what what as a [01:13:32] numbers guy Wall Street guy you know I [01:13:34] mean you you would have a lot more [01:13:35] insight than I would but I would I would [01:13:37] I mean if unnuclear is truly unleashed [01:13:40] and we have an overabundance of energy. [01:13:42] I mean that would it is my understanding [01:13:45] that would throw us into some type of a [01:13:47] golden age. [01:13:48] >> Yeah, I great great point there. I think [01:13:51] this is why micro reactors are very [01:13:54] important because [01:13:56] let's say with our Kronos MMR, [01:14:00] every piece of it is modularized. So we [01:14:04] could produce this in a factory, right? [01:14:07] And it and it's and it adheres to road [01:14:11] weight limits, right? Every piece of it. [01:14:14] And the biggest part is vessels in in [01:14:16] nuclear reactors is that's the largest [01:14:19] piece. We could we're able to design [01:14:22] this and massproduce this in a factory. [01:14:25] Kind of like the gigawatt factory with [01:14:27] Tesla, right? Mhm. [01:14:29] >> That is the mindset you need in order to [01:14:32] get that golden age of nuclear cuz some [01:14:35] of these other small reactors are still [01:14:37] really big, right? Um where where you [01:14:41] can't just massroduce every single [01:14:43] piece. [01:14:44] >> Yeah, true. [01:14:44] >> Um but with a micro reactor, you're able [01:14:47] to do that uh and you're able to [01:14:49] transport it. And with our Kronos, it's [01:14:53] buried. So the surface of it will be a [01:14:57] certain finite amount and then on the [01:15:01] bottom we're able to connect the [01:15:04] reactors [01:15:06] almost like Lego blocks, right? Boom [01:15:08] boom 15 megawatt. So we can actually [01:15:11] scale to 1 gawatt if we wanted to. And [01:15:14] right now there's a tremendous amount of [01:15:16] interest from AI data centers and large [01:15:20] infrastructure companies to partner with [01:15:22] us. um to to colllocate some of that [01:15:26] with our design, right? Um and also the [01:15:30] the resilient part of it is if one [01:15:34] reactor dies and you have multiple, [01:15:36] those keep going. So you never lose [01:15:39] energy. [01:15:40] >> Wow. [01:15:40] >> Right. So this is this is blowing [01:15:43] people's minds cuz now and this is also [01:15:45] great for the military as well. Right. [01:15:48] If you get hit by a missile or something [01:15:51] and it takes out one of our reactors, [01:15:53] but you have multi, the other ones are [01:15:54] running still, so you're never going to [01:15:56] lose energy, right? So, and this is what [01:15:59] you need with a lot of these data [01:16:00] centers cuz you can't have any downtime [01:16:02] like that, right? So, a lot of them are [01:16:05] looking to colllocate and this is why, [01:16:08] you know, you have the big tech [01:16:09] companies investing now and partnering [01:16:12] with a lot of these companies, [01:16:14] >> right? [01:16:14] >> Interesting. [01:16:15] >> Yeah. Interesting. [01:16:17] Well, Jay, let's take a quick break. [01:16:18] Sure. And uh [01:16:19] >> No problem. We'll [01:16:20] >> pick up right where we left off. 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How [01:18:14] do you keep it secure from kids or [01:18:16] guests, but still access it instantly [01:18:18] when seconds matter? I've tried the [01:18:21] electronic safes. Batteries die, keys [01:18:24] get lost, and fumbling in the dark is [01:18:26] not an option. Stopbox is practical and [01:18:29] built for people who want real [01:18:31] protection without giving up speed or [01:18:33] control. It's completely mechanical. No [01:18:36] batteries, no keys, nothing to fail. The [01:18:40] fiveb button design is built for muscle [01:18:42] memory, so with one hand, you get fast [01:18:45] access while keeping everyone else out. [01:18:47] Your firearm stays secure but always [01:18:50] ready. And that's what sold me. You [01:18:52] shouldn't have to choose between safe [01:18:54] storage and being prepared. I keep mine [01:18:57] staged in different locations around the [01:18:59] house. It's TSA compliant for travel and [01:19:02] it's made right here in the USA. If you [01:19:05] carry or keep a firearm at home, this is [01:19:08] one upgrade that actually makes sense. [01:19:11] For a limited time, our listeners get [01:19:13] 10% off at Stopbox when you use code SRS [01:19:16] at checkout. Head to stopboxusa.com [01:19:19] and use code SRS for 10% off your entire [01:19:23] order. After you purchase, they will ask [01:19:25] you where you heard about them. Please [01:19:26] support our show and tell them our show [01:19:28] sent you. Again, that's stopboxusa.com [01:19:32] and use code SRS for 10% off your entire [01:19:36] order. [01:19:45] >> All right, Jay, we're back from the [01:19:46] break. I want to get into what you're [01:19:48] doing now with list technology. So, it [01:19:50] looks like you're doing some type of [01:19:52] laser [01:19:54] >> enrichment with uranium, which I know [01:19:56] nothing about. So, [01:19:58] >> um, [01:19:58] >> what sparked this one? [01:20:00] >> Yeah. So, I think why I'm I'm almost [01:20:04] drooling at this is because, [01:20:08] you know, I once again I kind of saw [01:20:10] this, [01:20:12] you know, in in the past, but okay, [01:20:15] everyone right now is building these [01:20:17] glorious reactors. So to me, everyone [01:20:20] has a Ferrari, [01:20:22] >> but [01:20:22] >> they have no gas for the Ferrari. And [01:20:25] this is where LIS kind of comes in here. [01:20:28] Lis actually stands for laser isotope [01:20:30] separation technologies. That's why we [01:20:32] named it Lis technologies. And in the [01:20:36] very beginning, I wanted this technology [01:20:39] in nano. But because it poses a [01:20:42] proliferation and national security [01:20:44] risk, we have to separate the companies. [01:20:47] Um but in reality we just wanted the [01:20:50] company in nano. Uh every management [01:20:54] figure um in in list has to get a Q [01:20:58] clearance for example and the reasoning [01:21:00] for this is [01:21:03] when you're we're dealing with [01:21:04] enrichment and what is enrichment okay [01:21:07] so I'll take you through kind of the [01:21:09] cycle of the fuel. So you take uranium [01:21:13] ore or or yellow cake um which you mine [01:21:16] and you have to convert it into UF6 [01:21:19] which is the gas and then this is where [01:21:22] enrichment comes in. The world currently [01:21:25] uses centrifuges and this is why Putin [01:21:29] he controls about I believe 40% of the [01:21:31] world's enrichment. So that means he has [01:21:33] a ton of centrifuges. [01:21:35] the US, you know, because the the [01:21:40] nuclear infrastructure here essentially [01:21:41] has been atrophied and we were the the [01:21:44] largest exporter of nuclear services and [01:21:48] fields back then. We're the now the [01:21:50] biggest importer, right? Because the US [01:21:54] didn't invest into this in so many [01:21:56] decades. So now with the nuclear [01:21:59] renaissance happening, you have to build [01:22:02] back the actual infrastructure to [01:22:04] support these reactors, right? And we [01:22:07] don't have that yet. We're we're [01:22:08] building there, but we don't have that [01:22:10] yet. So when I was looking at building [01:22:13] nano, I said, okay, one of the issues is [01:22:15] going to be fuel and the enrichment [01:22:17] side. So centrifuges is the second [01:22:21] generation of enrichment. The first [01:22:23] generation is gas diffusion. [01:22:26] Um the second is centrifuges and the [01:22:29] third or the holy grail I call it is [01:22:32] laser uranium enrichment. Okay. And what [01:22:36] that means is you're able to take a [01:22:38] laser and excite [01:22:41] to the isotope level to for enrichment. [01:22:45] Right? So for us [01:22:47] let's break this down. Civil nuclear [01:22:50] reactors you use 5% fuel up to 5% [01:22:55] enrichment of the fuel of okay [01:22:59] small nano reactors go up to 10% and [01:23:04] SMRs also with other microacttor go up [01:23:07] to 20% and that's called halu h a l eu [01:23:11] high assay lowenrich uranium that's up [01:23:14] to 20%. LEU is up to 5% lowenriched [01:23:17] uranium. And then when you go beyond [01:23:19] that is weapons grade and is then [01:23:21] considered HU or highenriched uranium [01:23:25] which is used for guess what? [01:23:26] Submarines, aircraft carriers and [01:23:29] nuclear bombs. Right. [01:23:31] >> Interesting. [01:23:31] >> So this is why we have to move list out [01:23:36] is because it poses a national security [01:23:38] risk cuz technically we could keep going [01:23:42] to that 99%. We're not looking to do [01:23:44] that. We're looking for only civil use [01:23:48] of this u meaning the leu and the halu [01:23:51] percent up to 20%. So essentially in a [01:23:54] single stage of the laser process we [01:23:57] could enrich to 5%. In two stages up to [01:24:00] 10% of halo and then we could keep going [01:24:03] right. So the what happened recently is [01:24:08] Israel and the US bombed Iran. Remember? [01:24:11] >> Mhm. What were they doing? Enriching [01:24:14] because the US and Israel's scared [01:24:17] they're going to enrich past the 20% and [01:24:19] they're going to keep going. Right? So, [01:24:22] this is the same type of security [01:24:25] profile list is going to have. Um, you [01:24:28] know what I did with LIS is early on I [01:24:32] engaged all the regulatory bodies in the [01:24:34] US and said, "Look, it's me Ju from [01:24:37] Nano. I'm not some other guy who didn't [01:24:40] grow up in New York City." Um, it's just [01:24:42] me. I want to build this company and I'm [01:24:45] willing to hand you the keys to the [01:24:47] laser room or whatever we're doing. We [01:24:49] just want to build the technology. And I [01:24:52] truly believe [01:24:54] we'll be able to do this in a way where [01:24:57] we could scale it commercially cuz [01:24:59] that's been kind of the issue in the [01:25:01] world is it could work in a lab, but the [01:25:04] scalability of these lasers and for this [01:25:07] enrichment no one's really done before. [01:25:10] So, um, the history of Liss is also kind [01:25:14] of crazy. [01:25:16] It could be made into a movie. So, Liss, [01:25:20] the origin of this is Dr. Jeff Urkens. [01:25:23] He's 94 years old now. He actually [01:25:25] drives a car still. And I told him, [01:25:28] don't drive, just take an Uber, but he [01:25:30] doesn't even know how to use it. Get [01:25:31] Uber, you know. So, he's 94 and he has [01:25:35] some freaky genetics and and DNA, but [01:25:38] his story dates back to World War II. [01:25:42] He's Dutch, but he was put in a to a [01:25:44] concentration camp in Indonesia. [01:25:47] And between 10 to 12 years old, he had [01:25:50] to serve hard labor. Like, he thought he [01:25:52] was going to die. What happened next is [01:25:54] the bomb dropped and it ended the war. [01:25:58] And what it did to that little kid is he [01:26:01] dedicated himself to learning everything [01:26:03] about the atom. So then guess where he [01:26:07] went? UC Berkeley to get his PhD. So [01:26:10] it's almost like full circle again. Um [01:26:13] UC Berkeley. [01:26:15] And now think of Back to the Future. You [01:26:18] know the mad scientists in his garage [01:26:20] building the car, right? Uh that's what [01:26:23] Jeff Urkens did. He built a whole test [01:26:27] loop of the laser in his garage. And the [01:26:32] craziest thing is the US government [01:26:34] didn't stop him. So he was technically [01:26:36] enriching small amounts of this in his [01:26:39] garage. And [01:26:42] there will be other nuclear experts that [01:26:44] I've encountered that went to his garage [01:26:47] and said, "I couldn't believe the [01:26:50] government's allowing him to do this, [01:26:51] but also the damn thing worked." So, [01:26:55] what happened next is there was a big um [01:26:58] um company up in Canada. It's called [01:27:01] Chemical. They're publicly listed as [01:27:03] well. Um I think they're like 3040 [01:27:06] billion company. [01:27:09] they actually funded his technology [01:27:12] um up in Canada and this was the late [01:27:16] 80s and early 90s and then what happened [01:27:19] next is for them to fund the next phase [01:27:22] of this was going to cost a lot of money [01:27:24] and then Russia the iron current fell [01:27:27] they had to support their economy by [01:27:29] selling cheap enriched uranium to the [01:27:31] world so they decided not to continue [01:27:35] with advancing his laser technology so [01:27:37] he took took his lasers, all his [01:27:40] paperwork and put it in storage in UC [01:27:43] Irvine, California. We took it out of [01:27:47] storage [01:27:49] uh and list was created. It is the only [01:27:52] US origin and pen to technology. So [01:27:57] this is a made in America technology and [01:28:00] to me is a critical technology. It's the [01:28:03] critical technology because once again [01:28:06] it could provide the enrichment [01:28:08] technology for the whole fuel cycle [01:28:10] which is needed [01:28:13] um drastically here in in in the US. So [01:28:16] you you know that's one of the [01:28:18] bottlenecks which is the fuel sign. So [01:28:20] this is why list [01:28:22] with nano is vertically integrated [01:28:26] >> and this separates us from all the other [01:28:29] um reactor companies and so having our [01:28:33] own fuel [01:28:35] at a cheaper cost than anyone else [01:28:37] separates us right um but also [01:28:41] >> it can potentially like I said [01:28:43] >> help you know help create fuel for [01:28:47] aircraft carrier submarines we're not [01:28:49] looking to do that. But if the [01:28:50] government one day wants to buy us out [01:28:52] or invest into that or or we make an [01:28:56] exception, then that could happen, [01:28:58] right? So if you're able to now make it [01:29:01] cheaper the enrichment than any other [01:29:05] centrifuge technology in the world or [01:29:07] make it essentially obsolete, [01:29:10] then Russia is going to have a problem [01:29:12] with the US. [01:29:14] >> China is building more reactors right [01:29:17] now than the whole world put together. [01:29:19] Are you serious? [01:29:20] >> Yes. So this is why national security [01:29:24] energy is national security. [01:29:26] >> China's building more [01:29:27] >> more reactors than the whole world put [01:29:29] together. [01:29:31] >> And this is why the US and I I believe [01:29:35] the Trump administration is is Huh. [01:29:38] >> How long have they been doing that? [01:29:40] >> Uh I would say this happened probably [01:29:42] the last [01:29:45] um decade. I would say the last they've [01:29:49] been turning the corner because of the [01:29:51] rise in technology and and the digital [01:29:55] side in China. They're now focused on [01:29:57] energy. They see that as a bottleneck [01:29:59] and remember the other issue recently [01:30:02] was the critical minerals, right? Uh I I [01:30:06] believe the administration got really [01:30:08] mad because China was restricting some [01:30:10] of the exports of the critical minerals [01:30:12] to the US. So now the US is investing [01:30:15] directly into these companies, right? [01:30:18] Cuz those critical minerals are used for [01:30:21] armor for military use. So once again, [01:30:25] it poses a national security risk if we [01:30:28] don't have critical minerals and [01:30:30] critical technologies like list to [01:30:32] actually advance. [01:30:36] >> Do you have any idea how far behind we [01:30:38] are from? [01:30:40] Um well from China we bu I mean [01:30:44] >> this is why there's a big push for small [01:30:46] reactors and companies like Nano [01:30:49] >> to help mass produce this in the future [01:30:52] right um they are the current [01:30:55] administration's also bringing back [01:30:57] online a lot of these older reactors and [01:31:01] kind of modernizing them as well. [01:31:03] They're they're pouring billions of [01:31:05] dollars into larger projects as well. [01:31:07] So, how much is still not going to be [01:31:11] enough? So, we need to continue to pour [01:31:14] more um funding and and and also remove [01:31:18] the bureaucracy, right? And that's [01:31:20] another area where the executive orders [01:31:23] recently helped push that, right? It [01:31:25] reduces timelines of the regulatory [01:31:27] aspects, right? So, we are moving in the [01:31:30] right direction. There's a tremendous [01:31:32] amount of momentum, but China's [01:31:35] unleashing their energy through nuclear, [01:31:38] and we need a follow. [01:31:41] >> [ __ ] Are you hopeful? You got to be [01:31:44] hopeful. [01:31:44] >> Uh yeah, I'm very hopeful. I mean, this [01:31:46] is why, you know, with Liss and Nano, [01:31:49] we're very much um a part of the build [01:31:53] back of the US infrastructure in nuclear [01:31:55] and the capabilities of the new [01:31:57] technologies in the future. So this is [01:32:00] why we're working with military here in [01:32:02] the US. Um because we see this as an [01:32:06] issue in the future, right? Um having [01:32:09] energy security sovereignty is a big [01:32:12] issue in the US and we need to be a part [01:32:15] of that. [01:32:17] >> And you're doing this LIS is going to be [01:32:20] headquartered right out of Oakidge, [01:32:22] Tennessee. Correct. [01:32:23] >> Yes. um we're actually bringing back [01:32:26] those lasers and modernizing them and [01:32:28] then also developing our new next [01:32:30] generation of lasers to do the [01:32:32] enrichment. So, um we made Oakidge, [01:32:36] Tennessee our home, which is also, if [01:32:38] you think about it, this is where the [01:32:40] first fuel came from for the Manhattan [01:32:43] project, which is the first atomic bomb [01:32:45] that dropped. So, it's almost full [01:32:46] circle. Yeah. So if you think about Jeff [01:32:49] Urkins, he's also considered the [01:32:51] founding father of laser enrichment. [01:32:54] If you think about his life, he almost [01:32:56] died in that concentration camp. [01:32:59] The field created to save his life was [01:33:01] in Oakidge, Tennessee. [01:33:03] >> Man, that is [01:33:03] >> so that full circle of his life. He's [01:33:08] now bringing back his lasers here to [01:33:11] demonstrate that to create the feel [01:33:13] that's needed for us, right? Um so once [01:33:17] again it's it's it's a freaky story. Um [01:33:20] also lists our whole executive [01:33:24] management team is from ASML. [01:33:26] ASML [01:33:28] also creates these lasers but therefore [01:33:30] semiconductor chips. There will be no AI [01:33:34] in the world without ASML. And my whole [01:33:38] laser executive team is from ASML. So if [01:33:42] they can't do this, no one can. Okay? [01:33:45] They're the most brilliant laser [01:33:47] scientists I know. Uh we created what I [01:33:50] call that laser tiger team of the best [01:33:52] of the best in the US. And we're so [01:33:56] pumped up. We we really feel like we're [01:34:00] going to make this happen. And if you're [01:34:02] able to create fuel cheaper, faster, and [01:34:06] more energy efficient than [01:34:09] Russia or any other country in the [01:34:11] world, [01:34:13] you know, they're going to be looking at [01:34:14] us. We're gonna have the edge in the US [01:34:16] now, right? So, this is why it's so [01:34:18] important to actually back list [01:34:20] technologies because it could be the X [01:34:23] factor in the future. [01:34:26] >> Where do we get all of our enriched [01:34:28] uranium from right now? [01:34:30] >> Uh, a lot of that [01:34:32] >> does it come from Russia? Yes, we were [01:34:34] buying, you know, billions of dollars a [01:34:36] year and then, you know, they they now [01:34:40] have, you know, certain acts banning [01:34:43] that, but with exceptions, you could [01:34:46] still technically get it if you need it, [01:34:49] right? Um, I think that's some of the, [01:34:51] but eventually they want to never use [01:34:55] Russia, right? But I think you still [01:34:58] need that access. But this is why the US [01:35:01] recently, you know, um created a deal [01:35:04] with the UK, right, to they call it, I [01:35:07] think, the golden uh aegis deal or [01:35:10] something where, you know, they're [01:35:12] looking to now focus on other countries [01:35:15] where we could build that fuel [01:35:17] capability or or to get that fuel from [01:35:20] as well, not just Russia, but Russia [01:35:22] once again controls about 40% of the [01:35:24] world's. Did I'm sorry. Did you just say [01:35:26] we're looking at other countries to [01:35:28] produce some bridged uranium? [01:35:30] >> Well, we're looking to get Yeah. Get [01:35:32] some of that to offset that to offset [01:35:35] Russia, right? To focus on how we cannot [01:35:38] depend on Russia for [01:35:40] >> why would we do that when we have lists [01:35:43] being built, right? Why would we even [01:35:45] waste our time [ __ ] around with other [01:35:47] countries? [01:35:48] >> Exactly. And this is why with LIS, next [01:35:50] year's a pivotal moment for us cuz we're [01:35:53] going to showcase that same results that [01:35:57] Dr. Jeff Urkens um produced earlier and [01:36:00] we're going to show in a single stage we [01:36:02] could enrich to LEU two stages. tou once [01:36:04] we do that it's going to send shock [01:36:06] waves across you know the world in the [01:36:09] US and then once we commercialize it [01:36:13] it's going to be a big plus as well cuz [01:36:16] commercializing it is saying now we [01:36:18] built the business we got approval from [01:36:21] the regulatory commission that will take [01:36:23] also the same amount of time when all [01:36:25] these reactors are built um all these [01:36:28] small reactors which is I would say [01:36:30] early 2030s um in or around then. So the [01:36:35] timing of this is in the next, you know, [01:36:37] five to four um years, this is all going [01:36:41] to come to life. Um that's what we we [01:36:44] hope to happen. But we're all in on [01:36:47] this. Um I think I think with Lis, you [01:36:50] know, I could become a billionaire. You [01:36:52] know, that that is something that we [01:36:55] definitely need in the future and the US [01:36:58] should definitely get behind. Um, and [01:37:02] we'll be making a lot of noise, I would [01:37:04] say, with lists next year cuz a lot of [01:37:06] the things we're doing now are going to [01:37:09] mature next year and people are going to [01:37:11] see hopefully the government backing us [01:37:14] and and state level, federal level, but [01:37:18] you know, we we were also um selected as [01:37:22] one of the six uh companies, domestic [01:37:25] companies for the LEU acquisition [01:37:27] program. So creating fuel for the [01:37:29] future. That's a $3.4 billion over a [01:37:32] decade um award that goes that the only [01:37:37] the six companies could bid for. [01:37:39] >> So we already got some recognition. Um [01:37:43] also the the um the air force innovation [01:37:47] unit also selected us to do some [01:37:49] feasibility studies around that as well. [01:37:52] Um so yeah it's it's happening. is [01:37:55] happening. But in the next, I would say [01:37:57] year or two, we're really gonna see a [01:37:59] big difference. And and we're going to [01:38:01] reestablish that baseline with Lis and [01:38:04] with Dr. Jeff Urkens. Um and and and the [01:38:08] funniest thing I I want to announce also [01:38:10] is like each I would say enrichment [01:38:15] um project has a name. So what I'm going [01:38:17] to I'm going to go back to Lord of the [01:38:19] Rings. Now, we're going to name [01:38:22] um our project the return of the king, [01:38:25] >> right? [01:38:26] >> Yeah. So, we're going to bring him back. [01:38:29] And this is once again a US origin [01:38:31] technology. So, this is like we could [01:38:34] pound our chest and say this is made in [01:38:36] America, right? [01:38:37] >> Man, that's cool. Yeah, [01:38:38] >> that is cool. Dr. uh Jeff Urkens. I [01:38:42] mean, that sounds like that would be a [01:38:43] good interview. [01:38:44] >> Yes. Oh, he he talks a little slow, but [01:38:48] you you'll love him. Yeah, [01:38:50] >> I'd love to meet him. [01:38:51] >> Yeah, you should. He'll talk. [01:38:53] >> Sounds like he'll be [01:38:53] >> He wrote his own book, too. It's called [01:38:55] The Nuclear Imperative. You could [01:38:56] actually buy it from Amazon. [01:38:58] >> Right on. I want to write that down. [01:38:59] >> Yeah. [01:39:00] >> The nuclear [01:39:01] >> imperative. Yeah. He wrote this a long [01:39:03] time ago. So now everything is full [01:39:06] circle for him. and and he I we want to [01:39:10] just create his legacy and and and and [01:39:13] you know even his paperwork, his cat [01:39:17] drawings, they're so old that you know [01:39:19] when when paper turns brown we have [01:39:22] thousands of pages of I I want to create [01:39:24] a museum you know one day for him and to [01:39:28] showcase that his life's work has now [01:39:32] changed the world and made also the US [01:39:34] stronger than any other nation in the [01:39:36] world. I mean, that's incredible. [01:39:38] >> That is Yeah, [01:39:39] >> that is something. [01:39:40] >> Yeah. [01:39:42] >> Anything else to discuss when it comes [01:39:44] to lists? [01:39:45] >> Uh, no. We're just excited about what's [01:39:48] going to come and um you know, there's [01:39:51] tons of interest in lists as well, like [01:39:54] from investors. you uh I I think [01:39:57] recently um Kathy Woods, you know, the [01:40:00] famous investor Arc Invest, they wrote [01:40:03] an article about US enrichment and that [01:40:07] US enrichment needs to be built back [01:40:09] faster. If not, AI is not going to, you [01:40:13] know, be at the full capacity because [01:40:15] you you don't have the fuel to power the [01:40:18] reactors. and they listed five companies [01:40:22] and I believe and list was selected as [01:40:25] one of the benefactors, right? So large [01:40:28] investors are even looking at us [01:40:30] already, right? Cuz they see the [01:40:32] potential here. [01:40:33] >> They see that [01:40:34] >> this is going to be the next generation [01:40:36] of technology that changes the world. [01:40:39] >> Yeah, [01:40:41] I'm excited for you. [01:40:42] >> Thank you. [01:40:43] >> I'm real excited for you. What else do [01:40:45] you got going on? Um, no th those are my [01:40:50] two I would say babies and I'm all in on [01:40:52] that. Uh, [01:40:54] >> well, you got your philanthropy. [01:40:56] >> Yes. Yes. Um, [01:40:57] >> sounds like that's pretty important to [01:40:58] you. [01:40:59] >> Yeah, it's very important. So, you know, [01:41:02] growing up in New York City, too, as a a [01:41:05] poor kid, uh, I turned to sports. I [01:41:08] played a lot of basketball, [01:41:10] um, football, like not the real football [01:41:13] where you're tackling everyone, but like [01:41:15] flag football or, um, and and you know, [01:41:19] I was lucky cuz I joined organizations [01:41:21] that supported me, that kind of fostered [01:41:23] me and took me to tournaments and paid [01:41:27] for my uniforms. And I just want to give [01:41:31] that back kind of like pay it forward. [01:41:33] So um you know I I I want to you know [01:41:37] invest into kids and and through sports [01:41:41] and education right like teaching them [01:41:43] about the real world but at the same [01:41:45] time duplicate what was given to me when [01:41:48] I was younger which is you know paying [01:41:50] for tournaments uniforms. Uh so we have [01:41:54] volleyball and basketball for inner city [01:41:55] kids right now. And you know we hire [01:41:58] coaches um we run clinics and um we do [01:42:02] we throw certain events too to educate [01:42:05] people as well. We donate um so that [01:42:08] yeah that's very important to me just [01:42:09] paying it forward um being blessed and [01:42:12] and humble about things and I think that [01:42:14] is necessary to add to kind of to the [01:42:18] matrix to add to to the kind of higher [01:42:21] power above right like you you give back [01:42:25] you will receive. So, um, and and this [01:42:28] is what I live by and this is why I [01:42:30] think people like doing business with me [01:42:32] because I'm a genuine person. I don't [01:42:35] look for the easy way out. I'm I'm [01:42:37] long-term and this is why I want to [01:42:39] create a legacy here, right? like I'm [01:42:42] long-term in Nano, long-term in list and [01:42:45] this and and I think this is going to [01:42:47] help change humanity, help change the [01:42:50] world um and give necessary energy to [01:42:54] humanity across every aspects. [01:42:57] >> Mhm. [01:42:58] >> It's impressive, man. It's impressive. [01:43:01] >> Thank you. [01:43:02] >> Last question. [01:43:03] >> Yes. [01:43:03] >> If you could uh recommend three people [01:43:05] to come on this show, who would they be? [01:43:09] >> Definitely Dr. Jeff Herkins like a movie [01:43:13] could be created out of out of his life. [01:43:15] Um I would also recommend [01:43:20] uh another um my my CEO actually of Nano [01:43:23] would be great. He he has a very unique [01:43:26] story as well. And then um I would pick [01:43:32] one friend of mine who also kind of led [01:43:34] the same journey as me. Uh but native [01:43:38] New Yorker, nothing was given to him and [01:43:42] he would be able to come on and kind of [01:43:44] when I say duplicate what I've done, but [01:43:47] he could give you a different [01:43:48] perspective in a different topic and [01:43:50] category. So um I don't want to say his [01:43:53] name because then uh he'll get gassed up [01:43:56] right now. he'll get he'll be like, "Oh [01:43:58] my god, I could go on his show." So, um, [01:44:00] those are the three I would I would [01:44:02] definitely want to come on the show. [01:44:04] >> Right on. Yeah. Well, thank you. [01:44:06] >> Yes. [01:44:06] >> Well, Jay, love what you're doing, man. [01:44:09] Thank you. Thank you for coming to [01:44:11] Tennessee and and and doing this [01:44:13] interview and uh I hope to see you again [01:44:15] and I wish you the best of luck. [01:44:16] >> Thank you so much for having me. [01:44:18] >> My pleasure. Cheers. [01:44:32] No matter where you're watching the [01:44:33] Shawn Ryan Show from, if you get [01:44:36] anything out of this at all, anything, [01:44:39] please like, comment, and subscribe. And [01:44:43] most importantly, share this everywhere [01:44:47] you possibly can. And if you're feeling [01:44:50] extra generous, head to Apple Podcast [01:44:53] and Spotify and leave us a